This species is distinguished from its congeners within the Galaxias olidus complex by the following characters: pelvic fin with 8 segmented rays; mean vertebral count very high 57, with broad range (52-59); distinct subterminal mouth; dorsal, anal and pelvic fin origins are set far back along trunk (70.4-75.1, 74.8-80.2 and 49.7-55.6 % SL respectively); distance between pectoral and pelvic fin bases is long (27.8-35.7 % SL); body depth shallow (8.4-12.4 % SL), much greater through pectoral fin base (11.8-16.4 % SL) than that through vent; caudal peduncle is very short and shallow (10.0-12.7 and 6.3-8.9 SL respectively); caudal fin much longer (120 %) than caudal peduncle; snout long (26.7-34.9 % HL); eye small (13.1-20.7 % HL); nostrils short and not visible from ventral view; anal fin base short (8.7-10.9 % SL); dorsal and anal fins short (12.6-15.9 and 13.1-15.9 % SL respectively); dorsal midline usually flattened anteriorly from above or slightly posterior to pectoral fin bases; posterior extent of mouth about 0.8 eye diameter below ventral margin of eye; usually 2, occasionally 1; pyloric caecae of moderate length (4.6 % SL); gill rakers are short to moderately long; anal fin origin usually under 0.85 distance posteriorly along dorsal fin base (greatest setback in all members of the species complex); no distinct black bars along lateral line though, very occasionally, dark patches on dorsal midline may have a very small, black bar in the centre; and, distinctive, mottled colour pattern (Ref. 98815).