Similar to Rivulus amanapira, R. atratus, R. ornatus, R. rectocaudatus, R. romeri, R. tecminae and R. uakti and differs from all other species of the genus by having a frontal squamation pattern consisting of one scale with all margins exposed just posterior to snout (vs. scale with all margins exposed near the center of median portion of frontal region) and an oblique infraorbital dark gray bar through chin (vs. never a similar color pattern). Also similar to R. atratus, R. ornatus and R. romeri and distinguished from the remaining congeners by possessing fewer anal-fin rays (8-10, vs. 11-19). Differs from R. atratus, R. ornatus and R. romeri by having a marginal dark reddish brown stripe on the caudal fin in males (vs. dark marginal stripes absent). Differs further from R. atratus and R. ornatus by the absence of dermosphenotic (vs. presence), absence of preopercular canal (vs. conspicuous short canal), and frontal scales arranged transversally (vs. circularly). Distinguished from R. romeri by having short anal fin, its tip reaching vertical through caudal peduncle (vs. long anal fin in males, tip reaching vertical through caudal-fin base), 32 scales on the longitudinal series (vs. 29-30), 16 scale rows around caudal peduncle (vs. 12) and six branchiostegal rays vs. five (Ref. 54752).