Can be diagnosed by the following characters: coracoid with a foramen; opercle with concave posterior margin; one ossified basibranchial; absence of postpectoral or humeral accessory electric organs; 14 total pectoral-fin rays (ii-iii) (shared with ranges of some Brachyhypopomus species0; 173-199 anal-fin rays (shared with ranges of few species of Brachyhypopomus and Microsternarchus); snout length 24.7-32.6% HL; five pectoral radials, in some individuals four partially fused to five (shared with Hypopomus species); mesopterygoid with short or reduced ascending process (shared with Microsternarchus species); mesocoracoid bridge absent (shared with most species of Brachyhypopomus, Microsternarchus and Racenisia); and 17 precaudal vertebrae (shared with some Brachyhypopomus species) (Ref. 94087).