[1][3] P. grebnitskii was later shown to be junior synonym of Centronotus dybowskii which had been described in 1880 by Franz Steindachner from the Gulf of Strielok near Vladivostok in Russia.

The specific name most likely honours the Polish biologist Benedykt Dybowski, who worked on the zoology of the Russian Far East.

[6] Pholidapus has a similar eel-like shaped body to that of Pholiswith a small, compressed head that lacks scales.

The body is greenish to yellowish brown in colour, it may have irregular horizontal and vertical streaking, this tends to become obscured towards the tail and belly.

The pectoral fin, the lower side of the head and the abdomen are greenish to orange yellow.