This species can be easily diagnosed from Lepidocephalus spectrum by the presence of eyes and dark pigment on the body, and absence of tubules along the lateral line; from L. pahangensis by the presence of scales on top of the head; from L. pallens by having the dorsal-fin origin well behind (vs. over) the pelvic-fin origin (predorsal length 65.0-69.3 vs. 59.9% SL); and from L. nanensis by having a shorter snout (3.9-5.1 vs. 5.6-7.4% SL; 23.3-27.1 vs. 28.6-38.1% HL). This species further differs from L. pahangensis in having 8 (vs. 9) branched dorsal-fin rays and 5-6 (vs. 4) branched anal-fin rays, and from L. pallens, L. pahangensis and L. spectrum in having a shorter head (16.6-18.8 vs. 23.2, 21.8, and 21.3-23.2% SL respectively) (Ref. 95334).