Distribution in South America: Pacific Ocean, Peru, from 10°S to 16°S (IMARPE Database), Chile, at 23ºS off Antofagasta (Palma & Apablaza 2004; Apablaza & Palma 2006), at 33ºS off Valparaíso (Palma 1973, 1977, 1994; Ulloa et al. 2000; Apablaza & Palma 2006; Palma & Silva 2006); Atlantic Ocean, Brazil to Argentina, from 0º to 43ºS (Totton 1941; Alvariño 1971; Cordeiro & Montú 1991; Nogueira & Oliveira 1991; Dias 1994; Pugh 1999; Migotto et al. 2002; Araujo 2006, 2012; Araujo et al. 2010; Silveira & Morandini 2011; Bonecker et al. 2014; Nishiyama 2016; Nishiyama et al. 2016).
Habitat: neritic and oceanic species. Epipelagic, found in tropical and subtropical waters (Alvariño 1971; Pagès et al. 1991; Pagès & Gili 1992; Pugh 1999; Pugh & Gasca 2009; Araujo 2012; Bonecker et al. 2014).