Differs from other species by the following characters: short upper maxilla, its posterior margin not reaching the lower maxilla joint (vs. upper maxilla longer, its posterior margin reaching to or a little past of mandible joint in Lycengraulis grossidens); 26 to 31 anal-fin rays and 44 to 46 vertebrae (vs. 21 to 23 anal-fin rays and 42 vertebrae in L. poeyi); anal-fin origin at vertical through base of second to fifth dorsal-fin ray and 17-21 gill rakers on the lower branch of first gill arch ( vs. anal-fin origin at vertical through base of sixth to 10th dorsal-fin ray and 12-15 gill rakers on the lower branch of first gill arch in L. batesii).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays ii-iii+11-13; anal-fin rays ii-iii+24-28; pectoral-fin rays i+13-14; pelvic fin-rays i+6 (Ref. 93939).