The vampire squid occupies meso- to bathypelagic depths throughout the world's tropical and temperate oceans where little to no light penetrates. The vampire squid is vertically distributed between depths of 300-3000m with a majority of vampire squids occupying depths of 1,500-2,500m. Studies conducted at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in California revealed that the Vampyroteuthis infernalis is confined to the oxygen minimum layer in this bay at an average depth of 690m and oxygen levels of 0.22 ml/l. The vampire squid's north-south distribution is localized between the fortieth degree north and south latitudes where the water is 2-6 degrees Celsius.

(Grzimek 1972)

(Wood and Ellis 1999)

Biogeographic Regions: indian ocean (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )