Differs from Balitora longibarbata by having one pair of maxillary barbel and 59-64 lateral line scales; from B. kwangsiensis by distance from pelvic-fin origin to pectoral-fin origin equal to distance from pelvic-fin origin to between anus and anal-fin origin and branched pelvic-fin rays nine. Distinguished from B. lancangjiangensis by a triangular-like blotch in nape absent, area from halfway to pelvic-fin ray to anus covered by scales, the first pectoral ray thickened, posterior end of pelvic-fin reaching beyond middle of distance from posterior end of pelvic-fin base to anal-fin origin, lateral line scales 59-64, slightly longer head, HL 4.2-5.1 times in SL, slightly larger eyes 4.0-6.4 times in HL. Differs from B. burmanica /i> by pointed snout in dorsal view; body depth 12.5-16.9% of SL, length of caudal-peduncle 2.0-2.8 times of its depth; caudal-peduncle length 14.3-15.6% of SL, average ratio of body width at pelvic-fin origin and distance between inner pelvic-fin base 2.0, body width 1.1-1.5 times of body depth (Ref. 56327).

Description: Dorsal-fin ray 3,8; anal-fin ray 2,5; pectoral-fin ray 8-9,10-12; pelvic-fin ray 2,9 (Ref. 56327).