Distinguished readily from all congeners including the sympatric Odontostilbe pulchra and Odontostilbe pao by its anterior position of the adipose fin, at vertical through last 2nd or 3rd anal-fin ray insertions. Can be further differentiated from Odontostilbe pulchra by a group of morphometric characters in males: snout pointed and longer 24.1-26.9% HL (vs. short and blunt in Odontostilbe pulchra, 18.0-26.0% HL); shorter pectoral-fin length 20.9-23.5% SL (vs. 21.3-26.4% SL); smaller anal-fin base 24.9-26.8% SL (vs. 26.0-31.4% SL); shorter caudal peduncle length 11.5- 13.0% SL (vs. 12.5-16.0% SL) ; longer snout-pelvic fin origin distance 45.1-48.7% SL (vs. 42.3-47.9% SL); and longer snout-anal fin origin distance 63.7-68.6% SL (vs. 58.6-64.0% SL). Furthermore, mature males have hooks on 1st to 6th-7th anal-fin rays (vs. hooks on 1st to 22nd anal-fin branched rays in Odontostilbe pulchra). Mature males usually have the 2nd unbranched dorsal-fin ray elongate, not present in Odontostilbe pulchra. Females and immature specimens, and not well-developed males can be differentiated from Odontostilbe pulchra by the following features: maxillary teeth 3-4, mostly 3 (vs. 2-3, mostly 2 in Odontostilbe pulchra; lateral line with 36 scales, one specimen 35 (vs. 33-37, mostly 34-35). Differs also from Odontostilbe fugitiva by its gill rakers counts on lower branch, averaging 11 (vs. usually 12) (Ref. 75063).

Description: Dorsal fin ii9; Anal fin iv or v, 19, 20, 21 or 22; Pectoral fin i9, 10, 110 or 12; Pelvic fin i6 or 7. Precaudal vertebrae, including Weberian apparatus 16 or 17 (Ref. 75063).