The spiny-back eel is a slender, laterally compressed, elongated fish that can reach a length of . The snout projects above a small mouth on the underside of the head, and head and body are clothed in tiny cycloid scales. As with other members of the family Notacanthidae, there are no teeth on the maxillary bones and the premaxillary teeth form a comblike cutting edge.
The spiny-back eel is a slender, elongated fish with a compressed body that can grow up to . The snout extends above a small mouth located on the underside of its head, which is covered in tiny scales. Similar to other Notacanthidae family members, this species lacks teeth on its maxillary bones and features premaxillary teeth with a comb-like cutting edge.