This species is distinguished by the following combination of character states: reduced dermal spinules, skin only partially covered with bifurcate dermal spinules, that the body appears to be naked, length of spines of each spinule not more than twice the distance between tips of spines; distinct esca ; naked illicium, no dermal spinules, about half length of second dorsal-fin spine; second dorsal-fin spine is unusually long, narrow, without posterior membrane; narrow pectoral-fin lobe, somewhat detached from side of body; with caudal peduncle, the membranous posteriormost margin of soft-dorsal and anal fins attached to body distinctly anterior to base of outermost rays of caudal fin; all rays of caudal fin are usually bifurcate (outermost caudal fin rays simple, 7 innermost bifurcate in UW 117643 and CBG 13028); presence of endopterygoid, pharyngobranchial I, epural and swim bladder; absence of pseudobranch I; D 12; A 7; pectoral-fin rays 9 pelvic-fin rays 5, all simple (posteriormost ray not bifurcated); membranes between rays of paired fins are deeply incised; one or more large basidorsal ocelli often present (Ref. 116699).