Head depressed but elevated above disk; disc triangular; snout pointed, with a horn-like rostrum (short to very long) projecting well forward before eyes, horn with few short hairs; fish-lure with 3 fleshy points, in a small cavity under horn; spine at lower rear corner of operculum blunt or little developed; gill rakers are oval plates covered with small teeth; eyes on sides of head; gill opening high, above pectoral fin base; pectoral and pelvic fins limb-like, pectorals completely separated from body; skin covered dorsal fin on tail, small fleshy anal fin under tail; skin with few, small protruding bony plates; flank without fringe of hairs; underside of body completely covered with pointed, bony scales underside of tail densely covered with small prickles, with sometimes a few conical spines along midline.
Light brown to greyish on back, white below; a dark brown stripe (sometimes broken) from top of head to caudal fin base on each side; snout and horn brownish; lips bright red.
