This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: predorsal vertebrae 11-12, total vertebrae 137-141, eye diameter less than 10% head length; vomerine dentition is reduced to 3 large compound teeth set in papillose pads with a fourth small tooth more posteriorly, maxillary and mandibular teeth numerous but small (Ref. 129611). Compared to specimens collected from

Taiwan and Japan, the only Vietnamese specimen has a slightly larger pre-anal length, 30.3% TL (vs. 27.0%-29.8% TL) and a slightly shorter tail 69.7% TL (vs. 70.2%-73.0% TL); specimen has an adnasal pore, whereas absent in the Taiwanese specimen (Ref. 131161).