Can be diagnosed by its unique dorsal color pattern, composed of a uniform gray to light tan or brown color, without strong vermiculations, rosettes or other conspicuous patterns dorsally. This species is tentatively further separated from H. rosai by presenting a slightly more slender tail width at base (holotype tail width 4.5% DW vs. 5.6% DW in holotype of H. rosai), slightly greater preorbital snout length (holotype preorbital snout length 33.2% DW vs. 31.0% DW in holotype of H. rosai), and proportionally smaller pelvic inner length (2.1% DW in holotype of H. gomesi, and ranging from 1.0 to 3.3% DW in all specimens, with a mean of 1.9% DW vs. 4.6% DW in holotype of H. rosai, ranging from 1.3 to 4.9% DW in all specimens, with a mean of 3.7% DW) (Ref. 86515).