This species was first described in the journal Copeia by Dolores Kingston, from preserved and live specimens in the University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.

[3] The golden skiffia is a small fish, reaching a maximum standard length (SL) of around 4.3 cm (1.7 in), with a wedge shaped head and upturned lips.

The gold coloration is most vibrant during courtship, largely fading to the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins in non-courting males.

[6] Prior to extirpation, it was found in the Rio Teuchitlán, a tributary of the Río Ameca in Jalisco state, Mexico.

The area of the river inhabited by golden skiffia had a slight current, with murky water and mud, sand, and silt substrate.

[6] The project involved restoring the degraded habitat by removing non-native species and other threats from the river's ecosystem.

The release is part of the conservation project Fish Ark Mexico that successfully reintroduced the tequila splitfin into the Teuchitlán.

[7] The released fish will be monitored for five years to assess population change, reproduction, and successful growth in their natural habitat.