This species is distinguished from Notoliparis kermadecensis in its well-defined lower pectoral-fin lobe 33.74% HL (vs. absent) and its 1:1 ratio of haemal spines to pterygiophores with one anal-fin ray and one pterygiophore for each haemal spine; generally with fewer vertebrae 59-64 (vs. 63-68), anal-fin rays 46-50 (vs. 49-54), pectoral-fin rays 29-34 (vs. 31-36), and caudal-fin rays 12-14 (vs. 13-15); with coronal pore and t1, t2 or t3, and t4 pores (vs. absent); differs from both N. kurchatovi and N. macquariensis in the numbers of vertebrae with more than 59 (vs. 50-58), pectoral-fin rays 29-34 (vs. 31), caudal-fin rays 12-14 (vs. 13), and head length 17-22% SL (vs. 24–25% SL), interorbital width 5-8% SL (vs. 8-9% SL), disk length 5-6% SL (vs. 9-10% SL), and gill opening length 23–35% HL (vs. 24-26% HL) (Ref. 129455).