This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: cephalic

sensory-pore system pattern IV of Lachner & Karnella (1983); i.e. the PITO and IT pores are lacking and the AITO pore is enlarged); dorsal/anal-fin formula 9/8, unbranched pectoral-fin rays; genital papilla of male non-fimbriate; usually pectoral-fin base with a few chromatophores restricted to an area across from the top few fin rays, but more pigmentation on the rest of the base can be present; when preserved ventral half of body with a slightly dusky stripe, wider than eye diameter at middle of anal fin, with a dark semi-circular spot at the caudal-fin base. When alive: ventral

half of body red with a narrow white line above it running the length of the body; eye with a narrow white line running across it above the pupil, a short white line behind the eye, and a small white spot under the eye (Ref. 95677).