This small species (almost always less than 1.3 cm SL; smallest gravid female at 0.095 cm SL) is distinguished from its congeners by the following characters: cephalic sensory-pore lacking only the IT pore ( pattern 2); only some pectoral-fin rays are branched; dorsal/anal fin-ray formula of 9/8; fourth pelvic-fin ray with numerous branches (average 9.6); dark subcutaneous body bars 6, beginning at origin of anal fin; caudal-fin base with a dark, wedge-shaped mark and dark spots bordering upper and lower procurrent caudal-fin rays (Ref. 108793).