Hemitremia flammea can be distinguished by having the following characters: caudal peduncle deep; head short; snout extremely short; mouth small, slightly subterminal; eye round; body barely compressed; dorsal fin origin slightly behind pelvic fin origin; lateral line incomplete, fewer than half of scales pored; 38-44 lateral scales; anal fin with 7-8 rays; pharyngeal teeth 2,5-4,2; and coloration consists of olive above, dark stripe along back, dark streaks along upper side, followed by light stripe, then black stripe ending at black caudal spot or wedge, white to red below, bright scarlet red along bottom 1/3 of body and at base of dorsal fin in large specimens (especially males), and silver peritoneum flecked with black (Ref. 86798).