This species is distinguished by the following characters: fifth pelvic-fin ray absent or rudimentary; 5 or fewer dark internal spots or bands between anal-fin origin and caudal fin; no distinct markings on pectoral-fin base; similar with E. nigramembrana, it has a small, dark occipital spot; differs from E. nigramembrana by not having an obvious area of dark pigment on the opercular membrane; edges of the scale pockets are more heavily pigmented than E. nigramembrana; has a dark internal mark above the midline of the ural centrum (vs. on the middle of the centrum in E. nigripinna and over the entire centrum in E. winterbottomi); dorsal fin dark dusky basally and marginally, pale or light dusky in central portion of fin (Ref. 96083).