Danio assamila is distinguished from all congeners except D. dangila, D. catenatus, D. concatenatus, and D. sysphigmatus by produced first ray in pectoral and pelvic fins, large cleithral spot, and pattern of dark rings enclosing light interspaces on the side. It differs from these species by having round or slightly oval cleithral spot (vs. vertically extended in D. dangila), anterior interstripe Ia usually present (vs. absent in D. dangila), rings in series along side elongate, width of dark perimeter of about same width as diameter of light centre or wider (vs. elongate, with narrower perimeter in D. sysphigmatus, round in other species), ring pattern not extending onto caudal peduncle (vs. present on part of caudal peduncle in D. dangila, D. catenatus and D. concatenatus), and 32-34, rarely 36, scales on lateral line (vs. 35-38 in D. sysphigmatus) (Ref. 101154).