Distinguishable from other Japanese striated spined loaches by the following characteristics: body size small, the mature size about 45-55 mm SL in males, 50-60 mm SL in females; lamina circularis at the base of the pectoral fin of adult male roundish plate, somewhat narrowing toward the outer part; upper segments of the first branched soft ray of pectoral fin narrow and weak; PMN commonly 12; snout short; line L1 consisting of a series of 14-16 blotches; blotches oval-shaped, often chainlike longitudinal jagged line; line L2 lacking; line L3 formed by sharp longitudinal line, reaching

beyond dorsal fin; line L4 lacking or formed by weak dotted line; line L5 well developed with broad stripe in all season; caudal and dorsal fins margined by a broad black band; Upper and lower spot at caudal base black, upper sharpen, lower somewhat pale; spots slightly connected; egg yolk diameter approximately 0.8 mm; karyotype diploid (2n = 50) (Ref. 92393).