This species is distinguished from P. nemorosus and P. aquilus by the absence of fingerlike papillae along the dorsal margin of the hyoid arch and at the interhyal-posterior ceratohyal articulation, as well as fewer dorsal-fin rays (29-31 vs. 30-33 in P. nemorosus and P. aquilus) and more anal-fin rays (18-19 versus 15-18 in P. nemorosus and P. aquilus); differs from P. nudarcus by the position of the dorsal-fin origin, which is posterior to the orbit in this species (vs. above orbit in P. nudarcus) and by the having multiple rows of jaw teeth (vs. a single row, except near symphyses) (Ref. 87954).