It has reduced eyes that are entirely covered with skin and the anterior portion of its head is protected by thick flesh.

[1][2] The anal, caudal, and two dorsal fins are fused together with membranous structures, forming a continuous margin around the posterior of the body.

On the upper edges of the gill covers are distinctive oval holes that open into pouch-like cavities.

[1][3] T. vagina was recently recorded for the first time in the coastal waters of Israel (2009) and Turkey (2010), following its introduction in the Mediterranean Sea via the Suez Canal.

[5] As its common name suggests, T. vagina lives in burrows in the silty or muddy bottoms of estuarine and coastal areas.

The generic name is derived from Ancient Greek τρύπα (trupa, "hole") and αυχενος (aukhenos, "neck").