[2] It was described by Peter Henry John Castle and David G. Smith in 1981.

[3] It is a marine, deep water-dwelling eel which is known from the western Pacific Ocean, including New Caledonia, the Philippines, and Indonesia.

It dwells at a depth range of 400–412 metres (1,312–1,352 ft).

Females can reach a maximum total length of 43.1 centimetres (17.0 in).

[2] The species epithet "gephyra" means "bridge" in Ancient Greek, and refers to the link the species provides between the species Nettenchelys pygmaeus and Nettenchelys inion.