Differs from all members of Hypsolebias flavicaudatus complex by the possession of large black spots on the centre of the flank in females, its horizontal diameter larger than the orbit diameter (vs. about equal or smaller). The following combination of characters can be useful to diagnose from other members of the complex: 7-10 grey bars on the flank in males; presence of bluish white dots on the anterior portion of the dorsal fin in males; caudal peduncle depth in males 13.2-15.4% SL; eye diameter in males 30.7-33.0% of head length; anal-fin base length in males 39.3-43.5% SL; head width in males 61.1-68.9% SL; ventral part of the flank bars in males straight and unconnected; and 2-3 dorsal-fin filaments reaching the posterior portion of the caudal fin, sometimes barely surpassing posterior caudal-fin margin (Ref. 89836).