This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: mental barbel with large spherical bulb bearing darkly pigmented terminal appendage splitting at tip into short filaments; a solid longitudinal band of blue luminous tissue present along flanks from gill opening to caudal-fin base; a longitudinal row of small roundish spots of blue luminous tissue above the IV photophores on each side of body, connecting with row on opposite side by transverse interrupted streaks of blue luminous tissue alternating with anterior 12 PV photophores; a high number of AC photophores (14-18) (Ref. 120405).