Body relatively elongate, the depth ~ 29% of SL; head large, blunt; narrow (14-22% of snout length) and concave between eyes; snout short; nasal organ a short papilla with 2 small holes at end; eyes large, high on sides of head, raised above head profile; jaws are a strong beak composed of 4 fused heavy powerful teeth with a central suture on each jaw; a slit-like gill opening in front of the pectoral fin base; a single short- based dorsal fin at rear of body; a similar-shaped anal fin with origin under or behind last few dorsal rays; dorsal rays 7-8, anal rays 7; no pelvic fins; no spines in the fins; tail fin bluntly convex, with 10 main rays; tough scaleless skin, most of body without small spinules, a pair of small black skin flaps straddling midline of back, just behind level of gill opening .
Tan to light brown with pale mottlings, white on belly; iris and fins yellowish, basal portion of dorsal fin usually brown; skin flaps on back black.
Size: attains 25 cm.
Habitat: usually encountered near the bottom in sandy areas.
Depth: 5-20 m.
Galapagos, with strays to Cocos and the coast of Ecuador,
