Head large; eyes large; snout pointed, its anterolateral margin incompletely supported by bone. Underside of the head mostly scaled. Light organ large, a lens-shaped fossa on the abdomen extending forward to midway between the anus and the pelvic fin insertions. Scales on body with small imbricate spinules arranged in as many as 24 rows. Swim bladder deeply bilobed anteriorly, pointed posteriorly. Brownish overall, with two dark saddle marks, one below the nape, and another below the anterior portion of the second dorsal fin; mouth and gill cavities dark.