Denticetopsis is further distinguished from Cetopsidium in the lack of the dorsal-spine locking mechanism and in the having a lateral line extending either only onto the abdomen or distinctly further posteriorly onto the caudal peduncle, instead of terminating above the base of the anal fin.

The body depth at the dorsal fin origin is usually about one-quarter of the fish's standard length, but can be as low as one-fifth and as high as almost one-third.

In most species, the lateral line is complete, unbranched in midlateral, extending from the vertical through the pectoral fin base to the caudal peduncle; however, in D. royeroi and D. sauli, it is incomplete, interrupted, and restricted to the abdomen.

[2] Sexual dimorphism in the shape of the dorsal, pectoral, and anal fins has not been described in species of Denticetopsis, despite the presence of these traits in Cetopsis and Cetopsidium.

It is possible that male D. praecox reach sexual maturity at a smaller size than females of the same species.

[1] D. praecox have been found in a cobble-pebble habitat of black water streams that ranged in pH from 4.3–5.0.