This small species of the Chaunax abei species group is distinguished by the following characters: a dark gray mouth cavity and dark brown to black gill chamber and gill rakers; skin with short, simple spinules; lateral-line neuromasts in upper preopercular series 2-4 (mainly 3), in pectoral series12-13, in body series, including those on caudal fin 28-33 (30–32); gill rakers on second gill arch 10-12 (11); eye large (9.6-12.0% SL); head relatively long (42.4-46.3% SL), pre-preopercular length 31.1-32.1% SL, predorsal length 51.1-53.0% SL, upper-jaw 25.0-26.2% SL. Colouration: peritoneum black and the body when preserved is uniformly creamy-white, including esca (Ref. 127469).