Devario monticola differs from all its congeners in Sri Lankan by the combination of following characters: body depth 26-29 %SL; snout length equal to or greater than eye diameter; color pattern consisting of 4 or 5 dark, irregular, vertical bars restricted to anterior half of body; P-1 stripe narrower than P stripe, originating level with P stripe, extending to origin of caudal peduncle; 13-19 predorsal scales; dorsal fin with 9½-11½ branched rays, anal fin with 2½-15½ branched rays; a process on first infraorbital; presence of danionin notch; dorso-hypural distance when carried forward falling well short of posterior border of eye; and pectoral fin, when adpressed, not reaching origin of pelvic fin (Ref. 118056).