This species can be distinguished from other members of the Pseudoscopelus scriptus species group by a single character, anal-fin photophores (saf) not extending anterior to the level of anus (vs. extending anteriorly to level of or beyond anus). It is further distinguished from the other species by a set of characteristics: mesial series of premaxillary teeth in 3-4 rows (vs. single row in P. obtusifrons and P. pierbartus); mesial series of teeth in rows of 3-4 teeth gradually increasing of size from lateral to mesial (vs. in rows of 2-3 teeth, with internal row much larger than other teeth in P. cordilluminatus); total vertebrae 35-36, precaudal 18-19 (vs. 31, 14 in P. cephalus);pigmentation in the internal part of mouth exclusive to a dusky area in the skin covering regions with teeth on premaxilla and dentary (vs. internal area of mouth and gill arches black in P. sagamianus ) (Ref. 85782).