This species is distinguished by the following characters: long and slender with slightly protruding lower jaw and an oblique mouth cleft; head broad and depressed; palatines edentate and premaxillary, vomer and dentaries with a single row of small teeth; eyes are small and deep-set; D 58 with dorsal fin origin at midpoint of fish; predorsal length 49.5-51% SL; pectoral fin peduncle short, higher than long; pelvic fins absent; anterior gill arch with hardly visible rakers and filaments (Ref. 129454).