This species is distinguished by the following characters: lateral line incomplete; relative posterior position of the humeral spot, its posterior margin at a vertical with the dorsal-fin origin, its anterior margin located between the fourth or fifth rib, and its posterior margin at the eighth rib posterior to the pseudotympanum; differs from P. tegatus by having a longer pre-ventral distance, 38.9-47.0% SL, 42.0% on average (vs. 28.6-38.9% SL, 37.0% on average), longer caudal peduncle, 7.8-11.5% SL, 9.7% on average (vs. 4.7-7.8% SL, 6.0% on average), larger orbit diameter, 27.8-43.8% HL, 36.7% on average (vs. 22.9-26.5% HL, 24.5% on average); differs from P. nukak by having a lower number of perforated scales in the lateral line 6-7 (vs. 8-11), circumpeduncular scales 10 (vs. 11-12), anal-fin rays 29-32 (vs. 32-34), pectoral fin rays 10-11 (vs. 12-14); presence of bony hooks on the pelvic-fin rays of males; absence of hooks on the pectoral-fin rays of males; caudal vertebrae 20 vertebrae (Ref. 132565).