This species is distinguished from M. liza, M. curvidens, M. trichodon in having 3 spines

and 9 branched anal fin rays in adults or 2 spines, 1 unbranched and 9 branched anal fin rays in juveniles (vs. 3 spines and 8 branched anal fin rays in adults or 2 spines, 1 unbranched and 8 branched anal fin rays in juveniles); it differs from M. incilis in having the dorsal-fin origin midway between the snout tip and the caudal-fin base (vs. dorsal-fin origin much closer to the snout tip than to the caudal-fin base) and with 17-18 longitudinal scale rows around the caudal peduncle (vs. 20-23); differs from M. brevirostris, M. curema, M. rubrioculus in having 40-44 oblique scale rows from the dorsal limit of the pectoral-fin base to the caudal-fin base (vs. 35-39 oblique scale rows from the origin of the pectoral-fin limit to the caudal-fin base) and 13-15, usually 14, longitudinal scale rows from the dorsal-fin origin to the pelvic-fin origin (vs. 12-13, usually 13 oblique scale rows from the limit of the pectoral-fin base to the caudal-fin base) (Ref. 99819).