The only species that can be either variegated or plain-colored. Mottled individuals most closely resemble Anguilla celebensis and A. interioris in having broad, undivided tooth bands, but their ranges do not overlap. Plain-colored individuals most closely resemble A. japonica and A. borneensis, but those species both geographically distant. A. obscura is also plain-colored but has a shorter dorsal fin (Ref. 9828). The skin is grey to yellowish and more or less spotted with brown or black. It can be sometimes uniformly brownish red on the flanks and the back. The belly is white. Young specimens are grey and do not have spots (Ref.48622).