 The nursehound is found in the northeastern Atlantic from southern Norway and Sweden to Senegal , including off the British Isles , throughout the Mediterranean Sea , and the Canary Islands . It may occur as far south as the mouth of the Congo River , though these West African records may represent misidentifications of the West African catshark ( S. cervigoni ) . Its range seems to be rather patchy , particularly around offshore islands , where there are small local populations with limited exchange between them . The nursehound can be found from the intertidal zone to a depth of 400 m ( 1 @,@ 300 ft ) , though it is most common between 20 m ( 66 ft ) and 60 – 125 m ( 197 – 410 ft ) . This bottom @-@ dwelling species prefers quiet water over rough or rocky terrain , including sites with algal cover . In the Mediterranean , it favors algae @-@ covered coral . 
