Can be distinguished from all members of the Rasbora trifasciata-group by the following characters: anteriorly tapering black midlateral stripe extending along the flank from the post-opercular region to the base of the caudal fin and terminating posteriorly at the black basicaudal spot on the base of the caudal fin; cephalic tubercles of males are relatively stout and tall, with the base of the tubercle at the skin surface, and with epithelial cells on the basal surface bearing microgranules.; and a vermilion coloration on the dorsal and caudal fins in life. Differs further from other members in northwestern Sumatra by the following combination of characters: Type I cranial superficial neuromasts (basal plate confluent with the skin surface with no peripheral structure surrounding it); the symphyseal knob of the dentary strongly developed; the conspicuous depression on the lateroventral margin of the upper jaw which is notched by a deep lachrymal groove; the first infraorbital (lachrymal) with a posterodorsal process and a concave dorsal margin; the lachrymal region that is peripherally pigmented with an unpigmented central area; the dorsomedial branch of the supraorbital canal toward the posterior margin of frontal; the sphenotic that is exposed dorsal to the supraorbital canal; ten gill rakers on first arch; an axial streak reaching anteriorly to the pectoral girdle; the presence of cephalic tubercles on the ventral surface of lower jaw of both sexes; a transverse scale count anterior to the dorsal-fin origin and pelvic-fin insertion of K4/1/3K; 10 scales around caudal peduncle; a basal reticulation pattern comprised of networks of well-developed chevron-shaped bars on the midlateral surface of the body; the maximum vertical coverage of the basal reticulation of four longitudinal scale rows; and pelvic-fin rays i,7-8 (Ref. 85846).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays ii, 7½; anal-fin rays ii, 5½; pectoral-fin rays i, 11-13; pelvic-fin rays i, 7-8; basicaudal blotch relatively distinct; gill rakers on 1st gill arch 10-11 (Ref. 94947).