This species is distinguished by the following characters: almost no scales on the ventral surface of the head; nasal fossa with a large scaleless area anteriorly extending to nasal ridge and ventrally to or near suborbital ridge; lacks external evidence of a light organ; anus immediately before anal fin origin; long snout, about 2.0-2.3 into head length (HL), with strong terminal scute, which is elongate ventrally, anterolateral margins not completely supported by bone; grayish brown body, no prominent marking s; narrow blackish eye ring; dusky to black lips, mouth, and gill cavities (Ref. 80968).