This fish is native to the northeastern Pacific Ocean from British Columbia to Oregon, and the Gulf of California where it is found at depths of 100 to 850 metres (300 to 2,800 ft).

A distinguishing feature for this fish is that the length of the pointed snout is greater than the diameter of the eye.

[3] These fish are called "smoothtongue" because of their relative absence of teeth, with none on the premaxilla and tongue, and few on the jaws and the roof of the mouth.

In the late afternoon and earlier part of the night it is to be found near the surface of the sea feeding mainly on salps and larvaceans; its mouth is adapted to pull in these inactive, gelatinous prey items by suction.

[4] The fish has a double-chambered stomach, the first chamber having a black pigment in its lining which may prevent the light from luminescent prey it has swallowed from being visible from the exterior.