This species is distinguished from other members of the subgenus Photonectes in the following set of characters: short barbel with a very enlarged ovoid terminal bulb without terminal appendages; no blue luminous tissue; reduced length of gill filaments on first branchial arch, less than arch depth; VAV photophores 15-16 (vs. 0-15), AC photophores 13 (vs. 9-12), IV photophores 29 (vs. 30-46); bulb is plain (without filaments) and remarkably large. This species is similar to P. ovibarba (synonym of P. braueri) in having an enlarged bulb but is without pectoral fins (vs. present, with 2 rays each), IV photophores 29 (vs. 32-33), AC photophores 13 (vs. 10-12), the bulb has no terminal appendage (vs. bearing a small ovoid appendage); from another species with a large bulb, P. fimbria (synonym of P. parvimanus), IV photophores 29 (vs. 43-49), IP photophores insert halfway along the isthmus, or with gap (vs. insert near mandibular symphysis or no gap), no thick skin (vs. thick skin over dorsal- and anal-fin rays), no flap or terminal appendage; growth change unknown (vs. bulb with terminal flap increasing with growth) (Ref. 92891).