Distinguished from all other species of the genus from south-eastern Brazil by the unique colour pattern in living specimens, consisting of golden spots on the snout, flank, above and below the midline, and the dorsum; similar to T. itatiayae and T. diabolus Bockmann, Casatti & de Pinna, 2004 and distinguished from all other species from south-eastern Brazil by possessing a broad metapterygoid, which is wider than long; distinguished from T. itatiayae by having eight pectoral rays (vs seven), anal fin origin posterior to dorsal fin base, between base of dorsal fin rays 9-12 (vs through middle of dorsal fin base, between base of dorsal fin rays 7-8), opercular and interopercular odontodes conical (vs incisiform), 16-21 opercular odontodes (vs 10-15), presence of first two infraorbital pores (vs absence), caudal fin subtruncate (vs rounded), smaller predorsal length (58.1-63.1% SL, vs 63.6-64.0% Sl) and larger eye (eye diameter 8.5-10.3% of head length, vs 7.4-8.2% of head length); distinguished from T. diabolus by the absence of the bony contact area between metapterygoid and quadrate (vs presence), moderate pectoral fin filament, about 20% of pectoral fin length (vs pectoral fin filament absent), barbels well developed, tip reaching between posterior margin of interopercular patch of odontodes and pectoral fin base (vs barbels short, tip never reaching beyond anterior margin of interopercular patch of odontodes), smaller head length (18.0-21.7% SL, vs 22.1-25.8% SL), absence of white and black bars on caudal fin (vs presence) and colour pattern with a broad black stripe on the flank (vs absence of stripe) (Ref. 79612).

Body moderately deep, subcylindrical on anterior portion, compressed on caudal peduncle; Head subtriangular in dorsal view; snout blunt; mouth subventral; Nasal, maxillary and rictal barbels well developed; dorsal, anal and pectoral fins approximately triangular (Ref. 79612).