Description: Body very elongate, its depth 17-22% of standard length; eyes with a small interorbital space; snout obtusely pointed; rostral hook short; corner of mouth reaching well beyond vertical through posterior margin of lower eye, much nearer to gill opening than to tip of snout (Ref. 9895). Dorsal-fin rays 126-138; anal-fin rays 97-114; caudal-fin rays 10 (Ref. 9895). Two lateral lines on eyed side of body, none on blind side; midlateral-line scales 90-101; scales comparatively large, ctenoid on eyed side of body; cycloid (smooth) scales on blind side; only 11 or 12 scale rows between lateral lines on eyed side of body (Ref 9895). Total vertebrae 57-66 (Ref. 9895).

Colouration: Eyed sidereddish brown, sometimes with irregular brown-black patches, with a large black blotch on gill cover (Ref. 9895).