Snout long, slender, 2.4-2.8 of orbit; anterolateral margin incompletely supported by bone; orbit about equal to interorbital width, much less than postorbital length; upper jaw extends to below hind margin of orbits; subopercle forms small short point posteroventrally. Light organ long, extending from anus to thorax, just behind isthmus. Anus immediately before anal fin. Underside of head completely naked; top of snout scaled except for naked strip on each side medial to anterolateral margin; nasal fossa naked; no naked areas below orbit on suborbital shelf. Body scales large, with numerous (to 14 or more) low rows of short conical spinules. First dorsal fin pale to white with prominent black midlateral blotch; body and head pale, whitish to silvery ventrally; no bold marks except blackish on chest and around light organ.