Garra waensis can be distinguished from all its congeners by the combination of the following characters: no barbels; 7 branched rays on dorsal fin; 31-37+2 scales on lateral line; 10-12 scales around caudal peduncle; elongated body (body length 73.9-77.3% SL; body depth 16.4-21.1% SL); small and broad head (head length 22.7-26.1% SL; head depth 56.1-64.9% HL, 12.9-16.2% SL; head width 74.0-85.0% HL, 17.1-20.5% SL); a poorly developed proboscis in front of nostrils; reddish orange spots present (white or dull yellowish white in preserved specimens) on body side; a dark mid-lateral stripe running from upper edge of gill opening to caudal peduncle and expanding into a large anteriorly-pointed triangular blotch on caudal peduncle (in preserved condition); and red to pale red color in all fins (in live and fresh condition) (Ref. 95678).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays iii-iv,7; anal-fin rays iii,5; 2.5 scale rows below lateral line to pelvic-fin insertion (Ref. 95678).