This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 76-84; A 60-67; moderately large eyes (2.2-3.0%SL); slender body; rounded snout, no cirri; scales only cheeks; upper preopercular pore absent; outer pseudoclasper broad-based, large, sometimes beyond the hood when in resting position, with thickened tip especially on the inner face, while the inner one is large, thick, with posterior lobe folded over anterior pointed lobe; otolith length to height 2.1-2.3, with gently curved dorsal rim; otolith length to sulcus length 1.6-1.7, ostium length to caudal length 3.5-4.5; vertebrae 11-12 + 31-33 = 42-45 (Ref. 81230).

Description: Characterized by body depth at anal fin origin 17.1-19.4 (mean 18.4) % SL; caudal rays 16; anterior nostril high on snout, about one-third or less distance from lip to anterior rim of eye (Ref. 90102).