Incomplete lateral line; infraorbital process absent; branched dorsal fin rays 7-8, branched anal fin rays mostly 10-11. Can be distinguished from all other Danio species by the following combinations of characters: a series of short and wide vertical bars or blotches anteriorly on the sides, followed by a horizontal dark P stripe ending at caudal fin base; a short, incomplete lateral line; and barbels absent . The most similar species, D. shanensis, has the lateral line complete or nearly complete (23-32 versus 7017 pored scales), a shorter distance between the cleithral spot and the first vertical bar (2-3 scales versus 0.5-1.0 scale), and deep and thin vertical bars instead of short and wide vertical bars or blotches anteriorly on the sides.