The species is characterized by an elongate body; vertebrae 13-16 + 31-35 = 45-49, dorsal fin

rays 86-104, anal fin rays 56-65, D/A 36-42, V/A 17-19; no scales; no supraorbital pore behind eye; lower preopercular pores 3, non-tubular; posterior infraorbital pores 2; spine on maxilla positioned behind rear tip of eye; exposed opercular spine straight; lower lip with skin folds; single pair of pseudoclaspers large, curved, broad club-shaped; penis about half the length of pseudoclaspers, with hook at tip; otoliths pointed anteriorly and rounded posteriorly, postdorsal angle sharp, pronounced (Ref. 57886).