This species can be distinguished from Salmo kottelati by the combination of the following characters: 112-120 scales on lateral line (vs. 105-113); black spots on the body are few (less than 50), present on back and upper part of flank, and their number does not increase with increasing size and age in males (vs. black spots are numerous in males larger than about 16.0 cm SL and in females between about 16.0-19.0 cm SL, present on median, and half of upper and lower of part flank, and the number of both red and black spots increases with increasing size and age in males); males with head depth through eye 12-13% SL (vs. 14-17% SL), length of maxilla 9-10% SL (vs.10-13% SL), and length of mouth gape 11-14% SL, mean 13 (vs. 13-19% SL, mean 16) (Ref. 99540).