Can be distinguished from its congeners by possessing the following unique combination of characters: body dark brown with 8-10 cream bars, side with bars complete; head dorsum dark brown with thin cream reticulate pattern; absence of secondary rostrum; absence of a postoral pouch; gill slit angular, subopercular groove present and continuous to pectoral fin origin; a rounded snout when viewed dorsally; presence of sublacrymal groove; abdomen without scales; lateral line with 63-67 scales; pelvic fin not overlapping anal fin origin, adpressed dorsal fin not overlapping level of anal fin origin (Ref. 57871).