The shape of this salamander is typically 7-13 cm in total length. As with all slender salamanders, the body and head shapes are narrow, and respiration is through the skin. This organism has four toes on each foot. There are between eighteen and twenty-one costal grooves, conspicuous in appearance, lending a worm-like character to this species. Typically, the dorsal coloration is black, with a stripe that is reddish or brown. Ventral marking is dark with minute whitish dotting.
Fun Fact In general, red blood cells in mammals lack a cell nucleus when mature, and the red blood cells of other vertebrates have nuclei. The only known exceptions are salamanders of the Batrachoseps genus and fish of the Maurolicus genus with closely related species.