This small species, with a compressed body, is distinguished from all other recent Pantanodontidae by the following characters: low anal fin ray count, 13; pelvic fins of males are uniquely modified with the second fin ray ending in a T-split, in some specimens, extremely deformed and merged into a spoon-like claw; dorsal and anal fins pointed in male (no female specimens), slightly elongated but not as extended reaching beyond hypurals; slightly diagonal dorsal area; mouth superior, wide and flattened like typical surface dwellers; eye below the vertebral column (i.e. lateral line); pelvic fin inserted between pleural ribs 4 and 5; pelvic fins reaching the origin of the anal fin; hypurals closed and rounded i.e. a fan, parhypural ankylosed at base; epural free; (number of neural and haemal spines) N/H 2-5 (of which N/H 2-4 have a truncated end, N/H 5 is pointed) (Ref. 132493).