This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: an incomplete lateral line; position of the humeral spot near the anterior origin of the base of the dorsal fin between the fifth and eighth ribs counted from the posterior limit of the pseudotympanum; differs from P. tegatus by a longer caudal peduncle 7.1-11.0% SL, 9.1% on average (vs. 4.7-7.8% SL, 6.0% on average), shorter maxillary length 19.0-33.6% HL, 29.6% on average (vs. 33.8-43.2% HL, 38.1% on average), and larger orbit diameter 32.2-43.8% HL, 38.3% on average (vs. 22.9-26.5% HL, 24.5% on average); differs from P. yari by the higher number of perforated scales in the lateral line 8-11 (vs. 6-7), circumpeduncular scales 11-12 (vs. 10), anal-fin rays 32-34 (vs. 29-32), pectoral-fin rays 12-14 (vs. 10-11); no bony hooks on the pelvic-fin rays on males; presence of hooks on pectoral-fin rays of males; caudal vertebrae 22 (Ref. 132565).