This species is distinguished by the following characters: lacks external evidence of a light organ; anus immediately before anal fin origin; long snout, about 2.5 into head length (HL), anterolateral margins not completely supported by bone; a long band of premaxillary teeth, the outer series only slightly enlarged; fully scaled underside of the head, scales small armed with discrete uniform rows of small spinules; mouth with black gums; body with 10 or 11 wide dark bars or saddles, most do not extend much below lateral midline; bands interrupted by narrow white (pale) spaces oriented vertically or at slightly oblique angles; anal fin with broad, dark distal margins, the anterior part with white distal tips (Ref. 80968).