Distinguishable from other Japanese striated spined loaches by the following characteristics: body size large, mature size about 60-70 mm SL in males, 70-90 mm SL in females; lamina circularis at the base of the pectoral fin of adult male simple roundish plate, the upper segments of the first branched soft ray broad and strong; PMN commonly 14; caudal peduncle relatively deep; line L1 organized in longitudinal line from snout tip to dorsal-fin base, and formed by some oval- or saddle-shaped blotches on postdorsal body; line L2 lacking commonly; line L3 formed by sharp longitudinal line, reaching beyond dorsal fin ; line L4 lacking or formed by weak dotted line; line L5 well developed with broad stripe; caudal and dorsal fins margined by a broad black band; upper and lower spot at caudal base connected into dumbell-shape; egg yolk diameter approximately 1.1 mm; karyotype tetraploid (2n = 98) (Ref. 92393).