This slender-bodied shark is readily distinguished from its larger congener (H. griseus) by having a narrower head, relatively larger eyes, 5 large lower comb-shaped anterolateral teeth, a long slender dorsal-caudal space, with distance from the dorsal origin to the upper caudal origin being at least twice the length of the dorsal fin base; with the upper and lower caudal postventral margins forming a strong arch. In life, Color of dorsum a uniform pale brown without a light line extending along the lateral body trunk, the trailing fin edges are white in some specimens and the ventral surface is lighter (Ref. 94780).