Diagnosis: Distinguished from the majority of its congeners (46 of 61 currently recognized species) by the ventral position of the lateral line. Among species of Lycodes with a ventral lateral line, the new species is distinguished from brevipes, diapterus, hubbsi, microporus, nakamurae, nishimurai, and ocellatus by the absence of scales on the nape. It is distinguished from all remaining congeners except pectoralis and vahlii by its comparatively high vertebral count (113-120 vs. 94-113 in brunneofasciatus, caudimaculatus, frigidus, gracilis, and obscurus). It is distinguished from pectoralis and vahlii by the presence of an interorbital pore, number of anal-fin pterygiophores preceding the first haemal spine (5-7 vs. 2-4), and the color pattern (pectoralis and vahlii lack light bands on the dorsal fin, light blotches on the upper body, and the bicolor appearance of the head, body, and pectoral fin) (Ref. 56970).