[4] It is a tropical, marine eel known from coral reefs in the western Atlantic Ocean, including Texas, USA; the Bahamas, the Antilles, northern South America, the northwestern Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean.

It is a benthic, solitary eel that primarily resides in tubular sponges.

Males can reach a maximum total length of 16 centimetres (6.3 in).

[3] The collared eel exhibits biofluorescence, that is, when illuminated by blue or ultraviolet light, it re-emits it as orange, and appears differently than under white light illumination.

Biofluorescence may assist in intraspecific communication and camouflage.