This species has the following combination of characters: snout moderate (orbit diameter 0.88-1.16 into snout length), tipped with a sharp terminal scute, area dorsally behind leading edge of snout fully scaled, anterolateral margin of snout incompletely supported by bone; underside of head naked; body scales between origin of second dorsal fin and lateral line with 9-13 parallel rows of small, slender spinules; anterior dermal window of light organ short, extending forward about midway between anal-fin origin and pelvic-fin insertion; swim bladder deeply bilobed anteriorly; a distinctive banding pattern along body (Ref. 58387).