Seven branchiostegal rays. Head notably large and broad; preopercle and suborbital bones deep and large, opercle commensurately small; orbit small, 19%-30% HL, diameter much less than broad interorbital; snout high, slightly projecting beyond mouth. Mental barbel small, 10% or less of HL. Gill opening wide, extending forward to below hind end of maxilla; gill membranes loosely and narrowly attached to isthmus. Gill rakers usually 16-17 on inner series of 1st arch. Teeth small, close-set, in narrow tapered band on premaxilla, uniserial on dentary. Scales with numerous small, awl-shaped spinules; no reticulations on anterior field; lateral line scales absent, a series of dark papillae in their place. Vent about halfway between pelvic fin insertion and anal fin origin (usually closer to pelvic insertion), surrounded by a black, oval to teardrop-shaped naked area and preceded by a small, round dermal window of light organ between pelvic fin bases. Pyloric caeca short, 22-24. Color black to dark brown overall (Ref. 54421).