This species is distinguished from its congeners within the Galaxias olidus complex by the following characters: 8 segmented pelvic fin rays; no pyloric caecae; head length relatively long (21.6-24.5 % SL), about as long as pelvic fin to anal fin length distance; nostrils of moderate length, often just visible anterio-laterally from ventral view; mouth slightly subterminal, the lower jaw shorter than upper distinctive ‘blunt’ profile of snout; long anal fin base (10.4-12.9 % SL); short anal fin length/length of anal fin base ratio, long pelvic fins which are about 0.9 of the pectoral fin length; relatively long snout (27.2-32.0 % HL); a broadly flat dorsal midline anteriorly from above pelvic fin bases; raised lamellae rarely present on the ventral surface of paired fins, if present, weakly developed; anal fin origin usually under 0.6 distance posteriorly along dorsal fin base; no black bars along lateral line (Ref. 98815).