ɪɾ ɪz sˈuːpɚfˈɪʃəli sˈɪmɪlɚ tə ðə ɹˈoʊzi bˈɑːɹb, pˈɛθiə kəntʃˈoʊnɪəs, bˌʌt ɪt hɐz ɐ ɹˈɛdɪʃˈɔɹɪndʒ spˈɑːt ɔnðə ɡˈɪl plˈeɪt ænd ɐ mˈoːɹ pˈɔɪntᵻd dˈoːɹsəl fˈɪn.
It is superficially similar to the rosy barb, Pethia conchonius, but it has a reddish-orange spot on the gill plate and a more pointed dorsal fin.