Gila atraria can be distinguished by the following characters: deep, compressed body; large eye; short, blunt snout; 45-65 scales on lateral line; dorsal fin usually with 9 rays; anal fin with 8 rays; pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2; olive-brown to blue-black above; yellow to brassy side; clear to olive-yellow fins; and large males with yellow to gold-fin bases, mouth and side of the head, may be gold overall (Ref. 86798).