| Main Ref. | Pethiyagoda, R. and M. Kottelat, 2005 |
| Appearance refers to | |
| Bones in OsteoBase |
| Specialized organs | |
| Different appearance | |
| Different colors | |
| Remarks |
| Striking features | |
| Body shape lateral | fusiform / normal |
| Cross section | |
| Dorsal head profile | more or less straight |
| Type of eyes | |
| Type of mouth/snout | |
| Position of mouth | sub-terminal/inferior |
| Type of scales | |
| Diagnosis |
Adults are distinguished from all other Indian and Sri Lankan Puntius by possessing unique color pattern: a black blotch 2-3 scales wide starting on and above scale 6 or 7 of lateral line series; and another horizontally-elongate, black, tear-shaped blotch about 1 1/2 scales high commencing on lateral line slightly anterior to or above anal-fin origin, on about lateral-line scale row 13 and continuing to caudal fin base (Ref. 55036). Description: Lateral line with 20, 21 or 22 pored scales, plus 2-3 pored scales on caudal fin base. Pectoral fin with one simple and 14 or 15 branched rays (Ref. 55036). |
| Ease of Identification |
| Lateral Lines | Interrupted: No |
| Scales on lateral line | |
| Pored lateral line scales | |
| Scales in lateral series | |
| Scale rows above lateral line | |
| Scale rows below lateral line | |
| Scales around caudal peduncle | |
| Barbels | |
| Gill clefts (sharks/rays only) | |
| Gill rakers | |
| on lower limb | |
| on upper limb | |
| total | |
| Vertebrae | |
| preanal | |
| total |
| Attributes | |
| Fins number | 1 |
| Finlets No. | Dorsal |
| Ventral | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total | |
| Adipose fin | absent |
| Attributes | forked |
| Fins number | |
| Spines total | |
| Soft-rays total |
| Pectoral | Attributes |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays 15 - 16 | |
| Pelvics | Attributes |
| Position abdominal | |
| Spines | |
| Soft-rays |