This species differs from all other members of the Anablepsoides ornatus group by having a unique color pattern in the caudal fin in males, consisting of dorsal portion of fin white with dark reddish brown spots, contrasting with the ventral portion that is hyaline with dark grey dots and short lines (vs. never a similar color pattern). It can be diagnosed from other members of this species group, except A. henschelae, by the lack of teeth on the second pharyngobranchial bone (vs. present); and can be distinguished from A. henschelae by the absence of a longitudinal two of red dots on the ventral part of the flank in males (vs. presence). It is also distinguished from all species of the A. ornatus group, except A. ornatus, by having caudal fin pointed in larger specimens (vs. elliptical) and reddish brown spots on the dorsal portion of the caudal fin; also differs from A. ornatus by the red pigmentation of ventral portion of caudal peduncle not extending on caudal fin (vs. extending over whole ventral portion of the fin) and dorsal portion of caudal fin white (vs. yellow) (Ref. 94717).