Distinguished from all members of the Hypsolebias flavicaudatus species complex, except H. nitens, by having the dorsal and anal fins with short filamentous rays, the tip of the filaments reaching between the basal and middle portion of the caudal fin (vs. reaching the posterior portion of the caudal fin or surpassing its posterior edge). Can be diagnosed from all species of the complex, except H. flavicaudatus and H. gilbertobrasili, by the presence of bluish white dots on the antero-basal portion of the dorsal fin in males; from H. nitens in possessing body depth 35.8-39.5% SL. Differs from H. nitens and H. flavicaudatus by having the largest spot on the middle part of the flank in females larger than pupil (vs. smaller), caudal peduncle more slender (caudal peduncle depth 13.1-14.7% SL vs. 15.5-17.3% SL); from H. flagellatus, H. gilbertobrasili, H. janaubensis and H. radiseriatus by having the second proximal radial of the dorsal fin inmales between the neural spines of vertebrae 8 and 9 (vs. between the neural spines of vertebrae 6 and 8); from H. gilbertobrasili and H. flavicaudatus in having more dark grey bars on the flank in males (11-14 vs. 8-10). Possesses only 4-6 teeth on the second pharyngobranchial bone, contrasting to 7-11 in all other species of the complex (Ref. 89836).