The systematic account of these nontypical spiny
eels is as follows (Figure 2; Table): body is elongated,
compressed, and eel-like, with slender neural and hemal
spines. Rostrum is rounded in cross-section and devoid of
tooth plates. Body is covered by small cycloid scales. Rim
of anterior nostril has 6 slender, finger-like projections.
Preoperculum contains 4 spines. Dorsal fin is long and
is preceded by 25–26 isolated movable spines. Preorbital
spine strong and penetrates skin. Anal fin has 3 spines.
Total number of vertebrae is 60 ± 2. Back of the body
is greenish olive and belly is yellowish in color. All soft
fins are also yellowish and have numerous minute black
spots. All of the above features approximate them to
Macrognathus pancalus. However, dorsal and anal fins
are entirely confluent with caudal fin and resemble those
of Macrognathus guentheri (Dey, 1865). Measurement