This species is distinguished from other members of the Hoplias lacerdae group by having the following characters: laterosensory canal along the ventral surface of dentary always with 4 pores that become gradually subdivided into four patches of multiple pores in specimens larger than 6 cm SL; head and body with a dark brown ground coloration; scales on the lateral line 34-39; snout width 13.1-27.2% of HL; and interorbital width 16.0-35.5% of HL. Differs from Hoplias brasiliensis and Hoplias intermedius by its anterior profile of head rounded in lateral view vs. angular (Ref. 81195).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays ii,11-14; ii,11; anal-fin rays ii,6-8; pectoral-fin rays i,10-13; pelvic-fin

rays i,6-7. Longitudinal series of scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin 4.5-5.5. Gill rakers on first epibranchial approximately 11, most in form of small denticulated plates (Ref. 81195).