The best vertical distribution data is from the eastern North Atlantic. Until about 40 mm ML, most captures have been in the upper 300 m. The larger octopods have a very broad vertical distribution with most captures occuring in the upper mesopelagic zone but with some at lower mesopelagic depths during both the day and night. At night two captures were made in the lower regions of the epipelagic zone (Clarke and Lu, 1975 and Lu and Clarke, 1975).

Figure. Vertical distribution of V. richardi. All captures were made with opening/closing trawls. Bars represent a capture and the bar length indicates the depth range of the trawl while open. Yellow bars indicate a daytime capture and blue bars a nighttime capture. Graph modified and redrawn from Clarke and Lu, 1975 and Lu and Clarke, 1975.

The geographical distribution of V. richardi is throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the world's oceans (Nesis, 1982).