Distinguished from all Astyanax congeners by the possession of a shallow body (body depth 34.9-39.4% SL); 3-4 maxillary teeth; the insertion of the fifth tooth of the inner premaxillary series posterior to main series; presence of two humeral spots, second humeral spot distinctly vertically elongated and sometimes wider than the first; the presence of 34-36 perforated scales in the lateral series, and iv-v, 20-22 anal fin rays (Ref. 46822). Olive green, iridescent gold in color; red pigmentation on last 4 or 5 procurrent rays, unbranched principal rays and on 3 branched principal rays in each caudal fin lobe, except on distal portion of those rays; yellowish area bounding this red caudal portion; adipose fin and base of anal fins yellowish (Ref. 46822).