ɪɹˈɛθɪstˌɪdz hæv nˈɑːstɹəlz klˈoʊs təɡˈɛðɚ, sˈɛpɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd baɪ ɐ nˈeɪzəl bˈɑːɹbəl, wˌɪtʃ dˈɪfɚz fɹʌm ˈækɪsˌɪdz wˌɪtʃ hæv wˈaɪdli sˈɛpɚɹˌeɪɾᵻd nˈɑːstɹəlz ˌɔn ˈiːtʃ sˈaɪd ʌvðə hˈɛd, wɪð ɐ bˈɑːɹbəl ɔnðə pɑːstˈɪɹiɚ nˈɑːstɹəl.
Erethistids have nostrils close together, separated by a nasal barbel, which differs from akysids which have widely separated nostrils on each side of the head, with a barbel on the posterior nostril.