[4] The distribution of L. vincta is circumboreal, extending as far south in the Atlantic Ocean as the British Isles and France, and the eastern coast of North America.

[3] In the northeastern Pacific its range extends from Alaska to California, but it is seldom found further south than Washington state.

[3] In the British Isles, the larvae settle preferentially on brown seaweed such as Fucus serratus and Laminaria spp.

[3] In unsuitable conditions, such as at times of food shortage or when there are excessive numbers of predators, it can produce a string of mucus which it uses as a "parachute" to help it to drift to a more favorable location.

The eggs hatch in about six days and the veliger larvae are planktonic for up to six months before settling on the shallow seabed at a shell-length of about 1 mm (0.04 in).