It is found on the continental shelf and upper slope from the western Atlantic from western Venezuela, Suriname, Brazil, and Uruguay, between latitudes 11° N and 32° S.[2] However, specimens from the northern part of this range probably refer to other species.

[3][2] It is known for its long slender body and for its dark saddles with small black dots covering the dorsal area.

[3] The freckled catshark inhabits the tropical Atlantic oceans at depths of 37–402 m (121–1,319 ft) (mostly below 250 m).

[1][2] They are oviparous and deposit their egg cases on coral and sea-fan ocean floor.

However, since early 2000s, it has attracted commercial interest in some areas of southern Brazil.