This fish is widely distributed in the waters of all oceans, but is most abundant in the eastern Atlantic: from Norway to South Africa, including the Mediterranean Sea. It leads a benthic lifestyle and lives in depths of 25 to 400 metres. The Atlantic wreckfish has a massive, flattened body with a large head. The fish's body is coloured dark grey-brown. The belly is yellow in colour. An adult fish can reach more than 2 metres in length and weigh up to 100 kg.