This species is distinguished by the following combination of characters: palmate gill-rakers; uniserial dentition in both jaws; first dorsal-fin ray separated from remainder of fin, elongate, 0.8-1.7 in head length (HL), posterior membrane on ray broad, with a smooth margin, and running nearly entire length of ray; eyes usually with one tentacle, frequently branched; sexual dimorphism in interorbital width in specimens larger than ca. 60 mm SL, 8.9-18 in HL (1.6-3.1 % SL) in males, 15-21.2 (0.9-2.3 % SL) in females; body depth 2.0-2.5 in SL (40.4-50.1 SL); lateral line scales 56-67 (Ref. 57773).