Diagnosis: flat and asymmetric body; eyes located on right side of head, except in reversed individuals; preopercle covered by skin and opercle entirely scaled; mouth small, more or less arched and inferior; dorsal and anal fins lacking spinous rays and separated from caudal fin; dorsal fin originating on upper edge of mouth; pectoral fins absent; pelvic fins asymmetrical, the one on eyed side united to anal fin; lateral line straight along each side; body covered with ctenoid scales (Ref. 57416).

Description: anterior profile widely rounded, ending in very broad, slightly prominent snout that is extended ventrally into long hook-shaped appendix; eyes small, dorsal eye widely separated from head profile; eyed side with single nostril, anterior being simple tube, left side with two close-set nostrils located above mouth, anterior represented by tube ending in slightly enlarged and rosette-shaped opening (Ref. 57416).

Colouration: eyed side yellowish, mottled with brownish-black and a number of irregular, paler spots scattered over its entire surface; in some specimens there is series of brown spots at bases of dorsal and anal fins; these fins always comprise some odd blackish rays (Ref. 57416).