Distinguished from other species of Rasbora in having black midlateral stripe slightly descending anteriorly along its length until abruptly ending above the 6th or 7th lateral-line scale, attenuating posteriorly, barely reaching the black triangular basicaudal blotch, overall forming a stamen-like or a wedgeshaped profile with a posterior apex slightly tapering. Can be further diagnosed from Rasbora arundinata, R. maninjau, and R. bindumatoga from northern Sumatra in having the following characters: gill rakers on the first gill arch with a mode of 10 (vs. 11-13); a distinct limit between the head and the trunk characterized by abrupt convexity along the anterior portion of the trunk; a relatively deep body with a mean of 29.7% SL (vs. 24.1-27.3%); and a relatively deep caudal peduncle with a mean of 14.9% SL (vs. 11.9-14.0%) (Ref. 94947).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays i, 7½; anal-fin rays ii, 5½; pectoral-fin rays i, 12-13; pelvic-fin rays i, 8; scales of lateral-line series 23-25 + 3-5 (Ref. 94947).