this species of deep-sea shark is thought to be widely distributed. specimens have been seen in the atlantic, off the coast of guyana, surinam, french guiana, france, madeira, senegal, portugal, and the gulf of guinea. it has also been reported in the western pacific off japan, australia and new zealand. in the indian ocean it is found off south africa and mozambique. it was recently recorded in the u.s.a near san clemente island off the coast of california, as well as in the northern gulf of mexico, south of pascagoula, mississippi.