This stout species of Ophichthus, subgenus Coecilophis is distinguished by the following characters: tail 52-55% and head 14-15% of total length; origin of dorsal-fin in front of pectoral-fin base; wedge-shaped pectoral fins; posterior nostril in upper lip is covered by a flap; inconspicuous head pores, SO 1+4, IO 4+2, POM 3+7-9; small, conical and widely-spaced teeth, nearly uniserial on vomer and jaws; uniform tan in color, fins pale; mean vertebral formula 15/50/131, total vertebrae 130-132 (Ref. 84366).