Distinguished from other species of this genus by its predatory mode of life. Breeding adults are usually 14-30 cm long. There are 58-70 trunk myomeres. The trunk is not mottled in ammocoetes. The caudal fin is hyaline (Ref. 59043). Adults: 12-30 cm TL. Body wet weight of 48 individuals 14.0-24.1 cm TL, 2.66-21.65 g. Body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on 60-66 specimens measuring 14.0-24.1 cm TL): prebranchial length, 7.8-13.5; branchial length, 8.6-11.4; trunk length, 42.9-52.5; tail length, 25.6-32.3; cloacal slit length, 0.6-1.7; eye length, 1.0-2.1; disc length, 2.8-7.5; prenostril length, 4.1-8.3; snout length, 4.8-9.3; postocular length, 2.2-3.5. Intestine diameter, 0.03- 0.50 cm. The urogenital papilla length, as a percentage of branchial length, in a spawning male measuring 18 cm TL, 16.2. Trunk myomeres, 59-68. Dentition: Most labial teeth are villiform; supraoral lamina, 2 unicuspid teeth; infraoral lamina, 7-12 teeth, the lateralmost sometimes bicuspid while the rest are unicuspid; usually 3 endolaterals on one side (96%), but 4 (3%) and 2 (1%) also found; endolateral formula, typically 1-2-2 (59%) and 2-2-2 (23%), but also 1-2-1 (9%), and rarely 1-1-2, 2-2-1, 2-3-2, 1-2-2-1, 2-2-2-1, 1-2, 1-3-2, 1-3-1; 4-7 rows of anterials; first row of anterials, 6-13 unicuspid teeth; 2-5 rows of exolaterals; 2-4 rows of posterials; first row of posterials, 15-28 unicuspid teeth; transverse lingual lamina, 9-15 unicuspid teeth, the median one enlarged; longitudinal lingual laminae each with 10-17 usually unicuspid teeth, rarely, one may be bicuspid. Velar tentacles, 7-16, with tubercles; dorsal wings consisting of 2-6 tentacles usually present on either side, not reaching the median tentacle. Body coloration (live) gray blue on the head and dorsal aspect, gray towards pink on lateral aspects and white on the ventral aspect. Lateral line neuromasts unpigmented. Caudal fin pigmentation, - (20%), + (4%), ++ (12%), +++ (64%). Caudal fin shape, spade-like. Oral fimbriae, 90-115. Oral papillae, 15-25 (Ref. 89241).