Distinguished from other species of Hemirhamphodon in having the following characters: discernable markings on body and fins absent, except dorsal part of caudal fin base with sparse black pigments on both male and female; and submargin of dorsal fin suffused with black pigments; small adult size, up to 41 mm SL; adult sizes for male and female similar (as with H. tengah), other congeners with males up to 50% larger than females; males with an enlarged posterior projection on the fourth anal-fin ray, with third, fourth, sixth and eighth anal-fin rays branched; females with third, fourth and eighth anal-fin rays branched; pelvic-fin origin anterior to dorsal-fin origin; and dorsal fin with 14 to 15 rays (Ref. 94086).