Belongs to the subgenus Owiyeye and differs from other congeners, except Rivulus altivelis, Rivulus nicoi, Rivulus tecminae and Rivulus uakti, by possessing long pelvic fins (pelvic-fin length up to about 25 % of SL, reaching the middle of

anal-fin base in males vs. short pelvic fin, reaching anterior portion of anal-fi n base). Can be separated from other species of the subgenus (except for Rivulus amanapira,

Rivulus rectocaudatus and Rivulus tecminae) by truncate caudal fin in males (vs. round, subtruncate, spatula- or lyre-shaped caudal fin). Its 35-38 scales in the longitudinal series separate this species from other species (vs. 41-44 in Rivulus altivelis, 48-49 in Rivulus amanapira and 38-43 in Rivulus rectocaudatus and Rivulus tecminae, 26-29 in Rivulus nicoi and 32-33 in Rivulus uakti) (Ref. 87326).