Like all ziphiids, Strap-toothed Beaked Whales occur mostly in deep waters beyond the edge of the continental shelf. The seasonality of strandings off South Africa suggests that this species is migratory (Findlay et al. 1992). There is some evidence of sexual segregation among schools (Pitman et al. 2019). School sizes normally range from 2-5, but schools of up to 10 have been recorded (Pitman et al. 2019). The diet is comprised almost entirely of oceanic squids (off South Africa: mostly Cranchiidae [Taonius pavo] and Histioteuthidae [Histioteuthis spp.]), including Vampyroteuthis infernalis, which is found at depths of 600 to 900 m or even deeper; some fish and crustaceans are also taken (Sekiguchi et al. 1996). Killer Whales are known predators (Wellard et al. 2016).

Strap-toothed Beaked Whales apparently have a continuous distribution in cold-temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere, mostly between 35° and 63°S; they are occasionally sighted in Antarctic waters (Van Waerebeek et al. 2010, MacLeod et al. 2006), and a recent Northern Hemisphere stranding from Myanmar was clearly an extralimital stray (Chit et al. 2011). They have stranded in Namibia, South Africa, Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, [Heard Island], Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands (MacLeod et al. 2006, Best 2007, Otley et al. 2012).

The species is listed in Appendix II of CITES. Research is needed to determine the impacts of potential threatening processes on this species.