This species is distinguished among the barred group in Vanmanenia by the following set of characters: lateral side of the body with 14-22 vermiculations, the widths smaller than the diameter of the eye (vs. 10-15 regular bars with widths equal to the diameter of the eye in V. tetraloba); dorsal side of head covered with a large black blotch (vs. several short dark brown vermiculations in V. striata, V. tetraloba); gill opening smaller, its upper angle level with the lower edge of the eye (vs. opening larger and its upper angle aligned with the middle point of the eye in V. crassicauda, V. serrilineata, V. striata, V. tetraloba); dorsal part of the body with 4-6 black saddles (vs. 7-9 in V. striata); patch of the caudal-fin base dissociated, not connected to the upper and lower margin of the caudal peduncle (vs. connected in V. tetraloba); head smaller, its depth 45.2-47.1% HL (vs. head larger, depth 48.1-60.0% HL in V. striata, V. tetraloba) (Ref. 120400).