This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: differs from atlanticus by having a row of conical teeth posterior to a canine tooth near symphysis of lower jaw (vs. only villiform teeth in atlanticus); differs from anomalus, atlanticus by the absence of the basioccipital fossa (vs. present); differs from anomalus, cynodon by having the proximal-middle radial of first anal-fin pterygiophore without concavity on anterior surface (vs. narrow and elongate concavity) and with atlanticus (angular concavity); differs with anomalus in having pectoral-fin rays 16 and 15 on right (vs. 14), gill rakers on lower arm of first gill arch 14 (vs. 20-23); lateral-line scales 47 (vs. 45 or fewer in cynodon, sordidus and 49-51 in pacificus); body depth 30.5% SL (vs. 22.2-28.1% SL in anomalus; 32.1% SL or more in pacificus, sordidus); scales cycloid and very weakly ctenoid (only cycloid in pacificus) (Ref. 123567).