This species is distinguished from its congeners from the Iguaçu basin by the combination of the following characters: infraorbital 3 deep, but not in contact with preopercle, leaving a narrow naked area between border and preopercle; premaxillary external series with 4 (rarely 5) pentacuspid teeth; non-symphysial teeth in premaxillary internal series heptacuspid; vertical humeral bar with dorsal portion much wider than ventral portion; a faint and diffuse 'post-humeral' spot; lateral line scales 36-40, usually 37 or 38; first branchial arch with 7-9, usually 8, rakers in upper branch and 10-13, usually 12, rakers in lower branch (Ref. 85756).