Distribution
Limanda limanda the common dab one of a wide range of temperate fish species D varicus infects. © H Hillewaert
Derogenes varicus has been reported in over 250 fish species from shallow cold waters of both northern and southern hemispheres. It is also occasionally reported in squid.
There is evidence to suggest it is also common in cold deep waters in equatorial regions, exhibiting a phenomenon known as ‘equatorial submergence’.