The mouth is oblique and large, situated at the tip of the head with the lower and upper jaws roughly equal in size.

The caudal fin has a white spot at its base, surrounded by dark brown bands.

[1][2] Schismatogobius insignus was first described by the American ichthyologist Albert William Herre in 1927 from specimens recovered in Dumaguete and Negros Oriental, Philippines.

[2] It belongs to the genus Schismatogobius of the subfamily Gobionellinae, family Oxudercidae.

[3][4] The specific name is derived from Latin insignis ("distinguished"), in reference to the handsome coloration of the fish.