[4] It is a marine, subtropical eel which is known from the eastern central and southeastern Pacific Ocean, including California, USA, Peru, the Gulf of California, Mexico, the Galapagos Islands, Colombia, Ecuador, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama.

[3][5] It dwells at a maximum depth of 155 metres (509 ft), and forms burrows in mud and sand sediments.

[3] The species epithet "triserialis" means "three-rowed" in Latin, and refers to the eel's spotted pattern.

[3] The Pacific snake-eel's diet consists of bony fish, shrimp and bivalves.

[5] Due to its wide distribution, lack of known threats, and lack of observed population decline, the IUCN redlist lists the Pacific snake eel as Least Concern.