Distinguished by the following characters: dorsal rays VIII - I,11-12; anal rays I,10-13; pectoral rays 14-16; scales in lateral series 38-39; transverse scale rows 12-13; predorsal scales 20-26; postdorsal scales 11-12; gill rakers on first arch 2-3 + 8-9 = 10-12; total vertebrae 33; snout relatively elongate, concave, its length about 3.7 in head length; body depth at pelvic fin origin 23.2-23.7% of SL; color in alcohol overall dark brown, nearly black except anus and genital papilla whitish; fins blackish; juveniles (under 35 mm SL) tan to whitish with dense covering of contracted melanophores giving overall dusky coloration, fins blackish (Ref. 26739).