This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: scales elongated with reduced focus and well-developed lamina circularis; large and low peduncle depth (CPL/BLD > 3.4; APL/BLD > 1.8); a long knife-shaped lamina circularis (Canestrini scale) at the base of the second pectoral fin ray and with a narrow handle in males; lateral ethmoid (suborbital spine) well developed with long narrow mediocaudal, laterocaudal and mediorostral processes; narrow skull with elongated and narrow frontoparietal fontanel; numerous spots on the body in females; well-developed pigmentation in the four Gambetta’s zones; 12-21 (Median = 17.5) small blotches, with third Gambetta’s zone wide and sprinkled with numerous black spots in females, Gambetta’s second and fourth zone spots fused to form two black stripes in males; poorly developed ventral pigmentation in adult individuals, frequently interrupted in the middle of the body; lamina circularis at the base of the second pectoral ray in males; and presence of a large upper caudal spot (Ref. 137754).