This species is distinguished from its congeners (in the subcontinent of India and Southeast Asia) by the following set of characters: no barbels (vs. present in most species with fewer than 11 branched anal-fin rays, except chatricensis, barna, arunachalensis); dentary with tubercles in parallel rows; snout is much shorter than eye diameter; mouth gape below the anterior edge of orbit; pectoral and pelvic axial scales are lobate; pored lateral line scales 35-38; scale rows between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 7-8; predorsal scales 15; circumpeduncular scales 12; branched dorsal-fin rays 7; branched anal-fin rays 9; branched pelvic-fin rays 7 (vs. 8 in most species except O. ngawa); insertion of dorsal-fin does not reach pelvic-fin base (vs. reaching in O. chatricensis). Colouration: 6-7 vertical bars on the body, extending to lateral line; the distal edge of dorsal fin black (Ref.121827).