Faroe and Northern Scotland to Cape Province, Cabo Verde archipelago to Mediterranean. Predator on mobile preys, above sandy or sandy-muddy bottoms, from the infralittoral (rare) down to at least 450m deep; uncommon in coastal waters, more common around 150m deep. Synonym: biserialis (only two rows of suckers on each arm), italica, rubens (pinkish or reddish area on dorsal surface). The sepion is much smaller and more slender than those of officinalis and orbignyana.