Wide terminal mouth, with bony head with spike-like protrusions. Deeply notched dorsal fin with a dark patch on the first dorsal fin. Narrow dark stripe following lateral line, with a second thicker stripe on lower half of the body, running parallel to the other. Wide, fan like pectoral fins, may have dark patches or thin wavy stripes. Appears to have "legs" which act as feelers, but they are the first three rays of modified pectoral fins. Belly is white. Typical largest size is 12 inches but have been observed up to 18 inches.