[3] It was described by Raymond Carroll Osburn and John Treadwell Nichols in 1916, originally under the genus Letharchus.

[4] It is a marine, tropical eel which is known from the eastern central Pacific Ocean (from which its species epithet is derived), including Costa Rica, Mexico, and Panama.

[5] It is known to dwell at a depth of 35 metres (115 ft), and inhabits rock and sand sediments.

Males can reach a maximum total length of 81 centimetres (32 in).

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