This species' metamorphosed females are distinct from other species of the H. cornifer group in having a pair of simple distal escal appendages, each without any trace of lateral appendages or filaments; further diagnosed by the following: illicium length 31.1% SL (28.2% preserved); escal bulb width 11.9% (10.5% preserved); no filaments in illicium and esca; tiny, close-set dermal spinules cover the illicium, esca and proximal one-half of distal escal appendage (this appendage is darkly pigmented, tip of intact filament silvery white in freshly thawed specimens) (Ref. 85522).