Differs from all other species of the subgenus Melanorivulus by the possession of six pelvic-fin rays. Can be diagnosed by the unique combination of the following characters: entire flank with longitudinal rows of red dots; head with reduced black pigmentation; presence of a longitudinally elongated white mark above caudal spot in females, vertically elongate spots on caudal fin, often forming bars; dorsal and anal fins in males rounded; caudal fin with 32-33 rays; scales in longitudinal series 33-35; scales in transverse series 8; dorsal-fin origin in vertical through base of 7th or 8th anal-fin ray; and tip of pelvic fin reaching between base of 1st and 3rd anal-fin rays in males (Ref. 78126).