This species is distinguished from all Sri Lankan and peninsular-Indian congeners by the following set of characters: two pairs of barbels (maxillary and rostral); D 12-13 branched rays; lateral line scales 44-51; scales in transverse series ½8-½9+1+6–7; circumpeduncular scales 19-22; eye diameter 18.4-24.4 % HL. Colouration: 6-7 rows of scales on side of body above and between tip of pectoral fin and origin of anal fin with orange-colored patches, resembling an orange blotch; upper and lower margins of scales on the side of the body are dark-pigmented, forming 9-13 hazy lines (Ref. 118635).