Distinguished by the unique color pattern on the flank in males, with red marks variable in shape, highly overlapped (vs. never a similar color pattern), and caudal fn with dark gray stripe posterior to caudal spot in females (vs. stripe absent). Also distinguished from all other members of the R. punctatus group by the combination of the following features: frontal squamation F-patterned (vs. E-patterned), flank with striking iridescent colors in male, contrasting metallic blue to greenish blue on middle of flank with light purplish blue above anal fin and brownish golden on anterior dorsolateralportion of body (vs. never a similar color pattern), no distinctive dark stripe along midline of flank (vs. stripe present); red bars on caudal fin in males (vs. bars absent).