Danio sysphigmatus is distinguished from all congeners except D. assamila, D. dangila, D. catenatus, and D. concatenatus by produced first ray in pectoral and pelvic fins, large cleithral spot, and pattern of dark rings enclosing light interspaces on the side. It differs from those species by having round cleithral spot (vs. vertically extended in D. dangila), presence of anterior interstripe Ia (vs. absent in D. dangila and D. catenatus), round or, usually, slightly elongate rings in 1-2 series along side, width of dark perimeter narrower than diameter of light center (vs. rings clearly elongate in D. assamila; perimeter width equal to diameter of light center in D. assamila, D. catenatus, D. concatenatus, and D. dangila), ring pattern not extending onto caudal peduncle (vs. extending onto caudal peduncle in D. catenatus, D. concatenatus and occasionally D. dangila), and 35-38 lateral line scales (vs. 32-34 in D. dangila, 32-34, rarely 36 in D. assamila) (Ref. 101154).