Distinguished from other species of the genus Anchoviella by having a short upper jaw, with its posterior tip extending between the verticals through anterior and posterior margins of the pupil (vs. posterior tip of upper jaw extending beyond the vertical through posterior margin of the pupil). This species differs also from other strictly freshwater Amazonian species of the genus by the distance from tip of snout to posterior end of upper jaw between 8 and 11% in SL (vs. 14% or more in A. alleni, A. carrikeri, A. guianensis, and A. jamesi). Can be further diagnosed from A. alleni by its anal-fin origin slightly posterior to or at the vertical through the base of the last dorsal-fin ray (anal-fin origin posterior to the vertical through the last anal-fin ray by at least 14% of HL) and A. jamesi (anal-fin origin anterior to the vertical through the last anal-fin ray) (Ref. 89861).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays ii-iii+11-12; Anal-fin rays iiiii+12-13 (Ref. 89861).