Percina apina can be distinguished by having the following characters: dorsum with about 11 dark saddles that are interspersed with vermiculated patches of pigment that extend to the side of the body; 7 to 9 dark, large round or oval shaped lateral blotches along the side of the body that are typically wider than high; anterior-most blotches are just posterior of the operculum and are smaller in size, as is the most posterior blotch, which is often confluent with a distinct caudal spot; a moderate to diffuse suborbital bar of pigment; males in nuptial condition with a gold-green background color with an overall duskiness and a blue-green iridescence on the cheeks and side of the body; first dorsal fin with an intense orange submarginal band distal to a narrow yellow band of coloration with a wide and basal band comprising uniform streaks of brown-orange pigment; distal margin of the second dorsal fin lightly pigmented with a proximate band of dusky orange coloration and a tessellated basal margin; caudal fin with light bands of pigment and the distal margin slightly pigmented in nuptial males; nuptial males with anal fin yellowgold distally with a basal peppering of dark pigment; males in nuptial condition with membranes of the pelvic fin filled with jet-black pigment, and the pectoral fin membranes slightly peppered with dark pigment (Ref. 116752).