This species of the Pseudoscopelus scriptus species group is distinguished by the unique dentition pattern of the premaxilla: mesial series in rows of 2-3 teeth, with first and second teeth much smaller than innermost tooth (vs. single row in P. pierbartus and P. obtusifrons; and teeth gradually increasing in size in P. cephalus, P. sagamianus, and P. scriptus). It is further distinguished from P. scriptus with anal-fin photophores (or saf) extending anteriorly beyond and around anus (vs. saf not extending anteriorly to anus); from P. cephalus by vertebral count (total vertebrae 35-36, precaudal 18-19 vs. 31, 14 in P. cephalus ); from P. sagamianus by melanophores inside mouth restricted to tooth insertion region (vs. internal area of mouth and gill arches completely black) (Ref. 85782).