The species is distinguished in having a very elongate, almost eel-like body; vertebrae 22-25 + 57-65 = 79-87, dorsal fin rays 161-191, anal fin rays 109-124, D/A 58-75, V/A 27-28; no scales; no supraorbital pore behind eye; lower preopercular pores 2; posterior infraorbital pores 3; broad angle on ventral maxilla positioned behind rear of eye; exposed opercular spine small, short, straight; lower lip with prominent skin folds; single pair of pseudoclaspers curved outwards, with narrow base and pointed tip, with broadly expanded fleshy flaps anteriorly and posteriorly; penis small, less than half the length of pseudoclaspers, with hook at tip; otoliths

pointed anteriorly, rounded posteriorly, predorsal angle more pronounced than postdorsal angle (Ref. 57886).