This species is distinguished from all other species in the Galaxias olidus complex by the following set of characters: a shallow body with a straight ventral profile; long and shallow caudal peduncle, its peduncle length is greater than the caudal fin length; caudal peduncle flanges are poorly developed; the distinctive snout extends anteriorly from the thick and fleshy upper jaw as a fleshy protrubence, bulbous in lateral profile; nostrils of moderate length, ofter not visible from ventral view; subterminal mouth and lower jaw 81.5 (72.9-99.4) % of length of upper jaw; most anterior tip of snout level with about lower 0.3 of eye diameter; head wide and shallow; short pre-pelvic fin length, pectoral fin to pelvic fin length and post-orbital head length dimensions; large, ventrally oriented pectoral and pelvic fins (12.1-16.7 and 9.2-13.0 % SL respectively); low mean vertebral count of 51, although range is broad (47-55); pyloric caecae 0-1, when present it is short (1.0 % SL) and wide; gill rakers of moderate length, thin and sharply pointed; anal fin origin usually under 0.4 distance posteriorly along dorsal fin base; distinctive cryptic colouration and no black bars along lateral line (Ref. 98815).