Diagnosed from all congeners by having the following characters: a short cranial fontanel, with the opening restricted to the frontals; a genital papilla with thick flap of skin around the deferent duct in males; and a notched anal fin in adult males. Differs further from other species of the genus by having nasal bone partially sutured to lateral margin of mesethmoid; 7-8 branched rays on anal fin; 10-11 ribs; and 38-39 post-Weberian vertebrae. Other distinguishing characters include: third nuchal plate well projected laterally with curved tip; and caudal-fin lobes of mature females similar in length, but mature males with slightly elongated upper lobe (Ref. 79512).

Description: Weberian vertebrae 38-39. Anal fin iii,7-8. Pelvic fin i5 (Ref. 79512).