 Both species are unusual benthic predators that specialize in biting off the tails of other knifefishes, and are characterized by their greatly enlarged jaws and teeth.Recent systematic studies indicate that both species should be included in "Sternarchella" instead of being placed in their own genus.The name "Magosternarchus" honors Dr. Francisco Mago Leccia, who has made many contributions to the study of gymnotiform knifefishes; the latter part of the name "sternarchus" is from the Greek "sternon" ("chest") and "archos" ("rectum"), referring to the forward placement of the urogenital opening in this group of fishes.