This species is distinguished by the following characters: absence of a ventral disk and pseudobranch; with a single pair of nostrils; single suprabranchial pore present; no coronal pore; branchiostegal rays 6; lower pectoral fin lobe does not form a single filament; hypural plate not divided and is fused with the terminal vertebral column; head lacks barbels or head flaps; differs from its congeners by having a high number of vertebrae 65, abdominal vertebrae 12; D 60; A 52; caudal fin rays 8; low number of pectoral fin rays 18 which forms a deep notch with two widely spaced non-rudimentary rays; mouth horizontal; jaw teeth simple and not uniserial.

Colouration: in life, blue-black anteriorly becoming pale posteriorly, blue pigment becoming dusky when preserved, peritoneum black (Ref. 130189).