Distinguished by having the following unique combination of characters: dorsal, anal and pelvic fins with elongated branched rays; two rows of premaxillary teeth in adults, and an almost complete row of teeth along the free ventral maxillary border. Differs from its unique congener, Nematocharax venustus, by having the following characters: absence of hooks or spinules on dorsal and pelvic-fins (vs. presence); five anal-fin rays with spinules (vs. more than seven rays); presence of a long dark pink horizontal mark on the caudal peduncle (vs. absence); five supraneurals (vs. four or fewer); pelvic-fin filament yellow (vs. pale rosy) (Ref. 93323).

Description: 10 branched dorsal-fin rays; 12-13 branched pectoral-fin rays; 8 branched pelvic-fin rays; 25-26 branched anal-fin rays (Ref. 93323).