Differs from all other congeners from northeastern Brazilian drainages by having two vertically elongated humeral blotches, a conspicuous and broad dark midlateral stripe (at least on anterior half of body), body highest along vertical slightly behind midlength of pectoral fin, 31-34 lateral-line scales, and two or three teeth on premaxillary outer series. Other characters important to distinguish this species include: anal fin with 21-22 total rays and 18-19 branched rays; dorsal-fin rays ii,9; 3-6 scales on base of anterior anal-fin rays; one or two maxillary teeth; fins homogeneously darkened by chromatophores; absence of red pigmentation on body when alive (Ref. 81202).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays ii,9; anal-fin rays iii,18 or 19; pectoral-fin rays i,9, 10, 11 or 12; pelvic-fin rays i,7. Scale rows between lateral line and pelvic-fin insertion 4 or 5 (Ref. 81202).