Body depth about 4 times in SL; 8 branched dorsal rays; 4 scale rows between lateral line and mid-ventral row in front of pelvic fins; 11-12 predorsal scales; uniformly dark greenish body in life; caudal with no noticeable marks (Ref. 43281). Comprises four distinct forms or morphs (Poropuntius bolovenensis bolovenensis, P. bolovenensis acuticeps, P. bolovenensis glaridostoma and P. bolovenensis laticeps). These are morphs of a species with pronounced trophic polymorphism. Most specimens have mouth parts resembling those in many other barbin species, including most species of Poropuntius with well-developed barbels, such as P. deauratus. P. bolovenensis is based on this form. The four morphs also have slight differences in body proportions (head length, body depth, caudal peduncle length) and meristic characters (counts of dorsal fin rays, gill rakers and scales). Their coloration in life is virtually identical, one reason for considering that they represent a single species. All of the smaller individuals have mouth parts of the generalized type (Ref. 35912)