[3][4] It was described by Achille Valenciennes in 1839, originally under the genus Ophisurus.

[5] Male leopard eels can reach a maximum total length of 64.8 cm (25.5 in).

It forms burrows in coarse sand sediments on rocky island coasts.

The species is also found in the western Atlantic Ocean.

The leopard eel's diet consists of benthic invertebrates.