Extremely small size (height 14 mm, standard length 17 mm); 12 trunk rings; 26–28 tail rings; reduced ossification of inferior and ventral trunk ridges; small or absent anal fin; brooding area in males anterior to anus; medium length snout which lacks a bulbous tip; raised, angular coronet; fused (or almost fused in holotype) gill-openings on midline behind coronet supported by raised cleithral girdle; scattered tubercles on trunk and tail; distinctive branching filaments (usually red in life) attached to the enlarged superior trunk ridge spine of the fifth trunk ring; white colour, occasionally with yellow or pink especially along the dorsal surface, with fine red lines on the trunk, and reddish transverse bands across the tail (Ref. 79848).