This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 76-79 and A 56-59, all dorsal and anal rays branched except for first few dorsal rays; 70-76 lateral-line scales; 37 vertebrae; 12-13 dorsal pterygiophores anterior to fourth neural spine; body depth 2.2-2.45 in SL; head length (HL) 4.05-4.15 in SL; no caudal peduncle; snout length 2.85-2.9 in HL; eye diameter 5.35-5.9 in HL; interorbital space narrow, 12.4-17.2 in HL; longest dorsal ray 1.6-1.7 in HL; caudal fin 4.15 in SL; pelvic fins not connected to anal fin or genital papilla, reaching base of third anal ray, 1.9-2.0 in HL; most scales of body with 10-12 ctenii that project well beyond scale margin; ocular-side of snout is fully scaled, the scales progressively smaller anteriorly, the ctenii replaced anteriorly by small cirri; when fresh ocular side is mottled pale yellowish and light brown with many irregular dark brown blotches (Ref. 84924).