This species is distinguished from P. paucus by having a greater number of dorsal-fin rays (30 vs. 24-26), anal-fin rays (18 vs. 15-16), pectoral-fin rays (18 vs. 16-17), and vertebrae (34 vs. 31); from P. andriashevi by having fewer dorsal-fin rays (30 vs. 36-39), anal-fin rays (18 vs. 19-22), and vertebrae (34 vs. 36-40); and from both species (as well as P. pietschi) by its caudal-fin morphology (ventral caudal spur absent, procurrent rays cylindrical vs. ventral caudal spur present, procurrent rays flattened, bladelike). It differs further from P. pietschi by having a shorter prepectoral length (<32% vs. >39% SL), longer dorsal-fin base (76% vs. 63-69% SL), and larger mouth (upper jaw extending approximately to posterior margin of orbit vs. mid-orbit); from P. opalescens by having a smaller body depth (45% vs. 52-64% SL), shorter head length (31% SL vs. >38% SL), shorter prepectoral length (31% vs. 39-50% SL), and larger mouth (upper jaw extending approximately to posterior margin of orbit vs. mid-orbit); from P. mauli by its gill-raker morphology (narrow, bladelike, with a few bristles concentrated near tip vs. stout, rounded, with many bristles concentrated near tip of raker), dentition (jaw teeth in single row vs. multiple rows), and structure of pharyngeal papillae (dorsal pharyngeal papillae saclike, multifid papillae absent inside mouth vs. multifid papillae near dorsal pharyngeal teeth and throughout mouth) (Ref. 94277).