Distinguished from congeners in having serrations on the anterior edge of the pectoral spine diverging at the distal quarter (vs. middle) and in having flattened and elongate plaque-like tubercles (vs. rounded tubercles) on the head and body. Both E. ascita and E. cavatura differ from E. montana and E. pipri in having a longer caudal peduncle (19.3-22.5% SL vs. 14.4-17.3). Both species differ further from E. montana in having a more slender body (body depth at anus 8.6-10.5% SL vs. 10.6-11.4) and from E. sicula by the absence (vs. present) of slight median depression on the lower lip margin. E. ascita differs further from E. cavatura in having the serrations on the anterior edge of the pectoral spine more sideways (vs. anteriorly) directed, a smaller eye (13.2-17.6% HL vs. 17.7-20.9) and nostrils (the length of the narial complex 53-75% of interorbital width vs. 77-90), and from E. sicula. In having a deeper caudal peduncle (5.4-6.2% SL vs. 4.1-5.1) (Ref. 55978).