Can be diagnosed from Telestes metohiensis and Telestes miloradi by the possession of the following combination of characters: slightly curved dark stripe (obvious in live and preserved specimens) present from just behind operculum to vertical just anterior to origin of anal fin, this stripe narrow and separated from dark pigmented area on back along its entire length; scales on most of body not overlapping but situated close to one another; scales overlapping behind pectoral girdle along lateral line and usually on caudal peduncle; snout with fleshy tip projecting over upper lip; mouth subterminal with tip of mouth cleft at or below level of ventral margin of eye; lateral line usually interrupted, with 24-69 total lateral-line scales; branched dorsal-fin rays usually 8½; branched anal-fin rays usually 8½; gill rakers 9 or 10; total vertebrae 39-41, mode 40; abdominal vertebrae 22-24, mode 22; caudal vertebrae 16-18, mode 17; head width 43-52% HL; and lower jaw long, length 10-12% SL (Ref. 89938).