This species is distinguished from its congeners in the barred group in Vanmanenia by the following set of characters: flank with 10-15 regular bars, its widths approximately equal to the eye diameter (vs. 14-22 regular bars with widths smaller than the eye diameter in V. microcephala, V. striata); dorsal part of the head covered with several dark brown vermiculations (vs. a large black blotch in V. microcephala, V. crassicauda, V. serrilineata); gill opening larger with its upper angle level to the middle point of the eye (vs. opening smaller and its upper angle level with the lower edge of the eye in V. microcephala); dorsal part of the body with 5-7 black saddles (vs. 7-9 in V. striata); patch of the caudal-fin base complete, connected to the upper and lower margins of the caudal peduncle (vs. dissociated and not connected to the upper and lower margins of the caudal peduncle in V. microcephala, V. striata) (Ref. 120400).