The new species closely resembles other members of the Etmopterus lucifer

group in having longitudinal rows of dermal denticles. It can be distinguished from congeners in having: a broader snout and gill length proportionally longer than other western North Pacific Etmopterus species; a shorter second dorsal fin height and caudal peduncle length; conspicuous dermal denticles on both the second dorsal fin and ventral snout surface; a flank marking, which resembles E. lucifer (Ref. 57876).