This species is distinguished by the following characters: a cephalic sensory-canal pore pattern lacking only IT and NA pores and with AITO pore positioned far forward and opening anteriorly; very long anterior tubular nares; dorsal/anal-fin ray formula 8/7; unbranched pectoral-fin rays 16; fifth pelvic-fin ray about 10% length of the fourth pelvic-fin ray; caudal-fin base with a black spot in two joined parts extending anteriorly past end of hypural plate; scattered melanophores on top of head, sometimes arranged in lines, but not as a single line of melanophores extending posteriorly from PITO pore back onto nape. When alive, body with a maroon stripe down midline of body with elongate white spots above stripe posteriorly and two white lines over abdomen (Ref. 119773).