Acanthoplesiops species with the following autapomorphic character states: 1) anterior two thirds of belly naked and 2) first two (instead of only the 1st) pterygiophores of dorsal-fin spines inserted between 2nd and 3rd neural spines.

Description: Characterized by dark brown to blackish color, including median and pelvic fins; orange to yellow tips/outer margin of dorsal, anal, caudal and pelvic fins; vertebrae 13-14+14; tubed lateral line scales 5-10; sensory pores on dentary 3; without scales on belly; no papillae on head; depth of body at origin of dorsal fin 4.1-4.3 in SL (Ref. 90102).