Adults: 9.8-17.5 cm TL. Body proportions, as percentage of TL (based on 39 specimens measuring 9.8-17.3 cm TL): prebranchial length, 8.9-12.8; branchial length, 8.9-11.3; trunk length, 44.7-53.5; tail length, 24.3-35.0; eye length, 1.4-3.0; disc length, 4.1-7.2. Urogenital papilla length, as a percentage of branchial length, in ten spawning males measuring 11.2-13.3 cm TL, 17.8-36.4. Trunk myomeres, 53-58. Dentition: supraoral lamina, 2 unicuspid teeth; infraoral lamina, 6-9 unicuspid teeth, usually 8; usually 3 endolaterals on each side, occasionally 2 on one side; endolateral formulae highly variable with the first two teeth 1-3 and the third 1-2; 1-2 rows of anterials; first row of anterials, 6 unicuspid teeth (in spawning specimens, the teeth in the anterior field may be lost); exolaterals absent; posterials absent; transverse lingual lamina, undetermined number of minute unicuspid teeth on either side of an enlarged median one; longitudinal lingual laminae cusps too small to count. Velar tentacles, 3-6, with tubercles. Body coloration (preserved), dark gray on dorsal and lateral aspects, whitish on ventral aspect. Lateral line neuromasts unpigmented. Extent of caudal fin pigmentation, 1% to <25% (in prespawning individuals) or, 75% or more (in spawning individuals). Fleshy tissues around the lingual laminae darkly pigmented. Caudal fin shape, rounded. Oral fimbriae, 83 (holotype).