This species is distinguished from all other species within the Galaxias olidus complex by the following characters: short caudal peduncle (10.3-12.0 % SL) and caudal fin length (10.1-12.2 % SL); anal fin and pelvic fins set far back at about 76 and 53 % SL respectively; anal and dorsal fin lengths are short, dorsal fin base short (8.0-9.6 % SL); pectoral fin short (9.6-12.0 % SL); dorsal midline of trunk usually flattened anteriorly from above midpoint between pectoral and pelvic fin bases; head is quite narrow (55.9-59.6 % HL) and eye relatively large (18.3-21.0 % HL); nostrils are moderately long, not visible from ventral view; gape about as wide as the length of lower jaw; often a single, sometimes two, unbranched, segmented rays in the dorsal fin (vs. usually 2); low mean number of vertebrae (52); raised lamellae on the ventral surface of paired fins appear to be absent; caudal peduncle flanges relatively short and occasionally just reaching adpressed anal fin; single, moderately short (1.7 % SL) and thin pyloric caecum; anal fin origin usually under 0.8 distance posteriorly along dorsal fin base; gill rakers are sharply pointed; absence of black bars along lateral line (Ref. 98815).