It is the only species in the family Neoceratidae, and is unique amongst the deep-sea anglerfish in lacking an illicium and esca (the "fishing rod" and "lure"), and in having large teeth placed on the outside of its jaws.

[2][3] The toothed seadevil was first formally described in 1914 by the German zoologist Paul Pappenheim with the type locality given as the South Atlantic around 416 km (258 mi) north of Saint Helena at 12°11'S, 6°16'W from a depth between 0 and 2,000 m (0 and 6,562 ft).

The specific name spinifer means "spine bearing", this is an allusion to the long needle-like teeth with hinges located on the jaws external to the mouth.

The mouth is large and extends well past the small eye; the jaws have an inner row of short, straight, widely spaced, immobile teeth.

On the outside of the jaws, there are prominent conical outgrowths that bear 2-3 straight teeth, the longest of which reach almost 15% the length of the entire body.

They are attached to the females by outgrowths of the snout and lower jaw; the olfactory organs are absent and the eyes are degenerate and covered with skin.