Distinguishable from the other species of the genus by having a broad dark bluish gray stripe along lateral midline of body, restricted to inner layer of tegument, overlapped by superficial dark brown spots. Also distinguished from the remaining species of the southeastern Brazil by having nine pectoral-fin rays, high number of odontodes (interopercular 59-70 vs. 30-52, opercular 23-30 vs. 10-20), anal-fin origin at vertical posterior to dorsal-fin base and a dark gray opercular patch of odontodes vs. light yellow . Differs from T. nigricans and T. immaculatus by a combination of longer nasal and maxillary barbels (nasal reaching pectoral fin base, vs. between orbit and opercular patch of odontodes; maxillary reaching anterior third of pectoral fin, vs. to interopercular patch of odontodes) and a single median third supraorbital pore vs. third supraorbital pore paired (Ref. 54465).