Adults differ from Puntius filamentosus, P. singhala and P. assimilis by having prominent black markings on body anterior to the anal-fin origin. Distinguished from P. exclamatio by lacking a horizontally-elongate, tear-shaped black blotch above the anal fin. Differs from P. srilakensis by possessing lower lip entire (vs. medially absent). Distinguished from P. arulius by having branched dorsal rays elongated into filaments in adult males (vs. dorsal fin concave and emarginate) and by having a pair of maxillary barbels 2.4-4.7% of SL (vs. <0.5%) (Ref. 55036).