This species is distinguished by the following characters: body very slender; anal-fin base very long, with 49-51 rays; anterior nostril is above the posterior end of maxilla; pelvic-fin origin at about middle of the fish, prepelvic length 46.8-51.4% SL; dorsal-fin origin at about middle of the distance or space between origins of pelvic and anal fins; distance or space between origins of pelvic and dorsal fins 48.5-57.1% of distance or space between origins of pelvic and anal fins; on each gill raker, usually with 1 or 2 small, stout teeth; prehaemal vertebrae 48-49, total vertebrae 115-121; total lateral-line scales 102-108; caudal peduncle long, its length about 3 times eye diameter; body uniformly dark brown to black in adults (Ref. 127467).