The American sailfin eel (Letharchus velifer, also known as the sailfin eelCommon names for Letharchus velifer at www.fishbase.org.) is an eel in the family Ophichthidae (worm/snake eels).Letharchus velifer at www.fishbase.org. It was described by George Brown Goode and Tarleton Hoffman Bean in 1882.Goode, G. B. and T. H. Bean, 1882 (16 Sept. - 11 Nov.) [ref. 1840] Descriptions of twenty-five new species of fish from the southern United States, and three new genera, Letharcus, Ioglossus, and Chriodorus. Proceedings of the United States National Museum v. 5 (no. 297): 412–437. It is a subtropical, marine eel which is known from the western Atlantic Ocean, including the United States (North Carolina and northeastern Florida) and the northeastern Gulf of Mexico. It frequently inhabits scallop grounds. Males can reach a maximum total length of 51 centimeters.
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