This species is distinguished by the following characters in males: anal and caudal fins light blue with a proximal brown spots, with brown median band, followed by a light blue subdistal and black distal bands; dorsal fin golden with brown spots and brown irregular stripes, with narrow black distal band. Colouration: body coloration light blue with seven to ten red-brown irregular vertical stripes. Differs from N. taeniopygus by having a greater head length of 35.0-38.6% SL (vs. 30.2-34.6); smaller head width of 50-57% HL (vs. 59-63); smaller head depth of 71-80% HL (vs. 89-98); smaller interorbital width of 31-40% HL (vs. 45-47); and smaller postorbital length of 44-51 % HL (vs. 55-63) (Ref. 128031).