Diagnosed from all congeners except Devario anomalus by its the color pattern, with a dark blotch anteriorly on the side composed of 4-5 short partly confluent vertical bars which may also be confluent to form a homogeneous blotch, and a wide dark horizontal band (P stripe) posteriorly on the side. Differs from Devario anomalus by proportional measurements and meristics, most important by deeper body (29.9-35.,8% SL, vs. 25.0-26.8 % SL) and fewer lateral line scales (31-33, modally 32 vs. 33-35, modally 34). In addition, the presence of an infraorbital process separates this species from all barred species of Devario (Ref. 81819).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays iii.10½ , iii.11½, iii.12½; anal-fin rays iii.13½, iii.14½, iii.15½; pectoral-fin rays i.11, i.12, i.13; pelvic-fin rays i.6, i.7 (Ref. 81819)..