Characterized by having large melanophores inside the rays of the caudal fin; metamorphosed females have ethmoid region of the cranium extremely flattened dorsoventrally; deep and wide illicial trough, nasal foramina narrow and elongate; absence of symphysial spine of lower jaw; dentaries forming thick, broad, posteriorly directed flange immediately lateral to their union on the midline, ventral margin of lower jaw at symphysis concave when viewed anteriorly; short illicium of pterygiophore, posterior part broad and dorsoventrally flattened; metamorphosed females having wide ethmoid cartilage and vomer, width about equal to distance between anterolateral tips of lateral ethmoids and frontals; absence of vomerine teeth; short frontals, anterior end overhanging and extending past anterior limits of the ethmoid cartilage and vomer, convex dorsal margin; well developed first ray of dorsal fin; dorsal fin rays 6-7; anal fin rays 5-7; short and broad pectoral fin lobe, shorter than the longest rays of pectoral fin; pectoral fin rays 21-27; coracoid lacking posteroventral process; pelvic bones, simple and expanded distally; skin naked, without dermal spinules; darkly pigmented skin of caudal peduncle extends well past base of caudal fin; metamorphosed males have posterior nostril contiguous with the eye, nasal area is white and with 18 olfactory lamellae, 7-9 upper denticular teeth fused at bases and 4 lower denticular teeth (Ref. 86949).