Distinguished from populations of Crystallaria asprella of the Gulf Coast, Mississippi River and Wabash River by a combination of the following features: gape width larger approximately equal to or exceeding the inter-pelvic fin base width; a preorbital blotch distinctly separate from the anterior orbital rim; pelvic fins distinctly falcate in both sexes; cheek scale rows reduced (modally 2); opercle scale rows reduced (modally 2); number of midlateral blotches higher (modally 13); number of anal-fin rays lower (modally 13); number of dorsal-fin spines lower (modally 12); and scales below the lateral line higher (modally 11) (Ref. 74948).