This species is distinguished from its congeners in the Galaxias olidus complex by the following characters: trunk with the dorsal and ventral profiles evenly arched from snout to dorsal fin; the dorsal and anal fin lengths, and fin base lengths, about equal; snout and upper lip are slightly anteriorly expanded and fleshy; dorsal midline usually broadly flattened anteriorly; dorsal profile of head distinctly flat anterior to nape; mouth cleft is moderately oblique; nostrils are short, not visible from ventral view; caudal peduncle flanges are high and long, usually extending to near anal fin base, and also extending along outer rays onto caudal fin; caudal fin length usually just shorter than the caudal peduncle length; pyloric caecae usually absent; anal fin origin usually under 0.66 distance posteriorly along dorsal fin base; no black bars along lateral line (Ref. 8815).