This moderately sized moray is distinguished by the following characters: body stout, anus slightly anterior to mid-body; teeth mostly uniserial, smaller individuals with an additional inner row of maxillary teeth, vomerine teeth sometimes in a staggered row; vertebrae, predorsal 4-7, preanal 53-57, total 134-139. Colouration: dark brown covered by pale spots; spots usually gathering into snowflake-like blotches on trunk, tail, fins, and posterior part of head, scattered evenly on snout and lips; a distinct saddle-like marking of ground color on top of head between eyes and origin of dorsal fin; fins without pale margin; throat grooves, gill opening, and corner of mouth darkish; Iris of eyes yellowish or reddish brown (Ref. 123899).