Spotted Wolffish occur in the Arctic Ocean and on both sides of the North Atlantic Ocean from Labrador to the Barents Sea. Its northern limit in Canada is Baffin Bay, although its presence is rare. In the western North Atlantic, it is found off east and west Greenland, on the Labrador Shelf and Grand Banks and less commonly on the Scotian Shelf.

This species is found offshore in cold, deep water, usually below 5oC and between 50 and 800 m in depth but as shallow as 25 m (Canadian arctic populations).

Spotted Wolffish are large marine fishes with prominent canine-like teeth in the front of both jaws. This species has a heavy head with a blunt, rounded snout and small eyes. The body is long and stout with no pelvic fins. The dorsal fin is long and extending to the base of the caudal, with flexible spiny rays. Colour is variable from pale olive to deep brown with upper parts sprinkled with irregularly shaped blackish-brown spots. The maximum length is over 1.8 m and weight reaches 23 kg. Fish become mature at seven years of age or older and can live to 21 years.