This species is distinguished by the following characters: scute small, broad, blunt terminal snout; underside of head is completely naked; dorsal surface of snout behind leading edge is almost completely scaled; nasal fossa generally partially scaled; distinct saddle bands on body; anterior three pale interspaces between bands are angled slightly posteroventrally from dorsal median line; anal fin overall dusky, coarsely peppered with melanophores and lacking a dark distal stripe; lens-shaped naked fossa of light organ about midway between anal and pelvic fins; 17-23 pyloric caeca (Ref. 75874).