Can be diagnosed from Telestes metohiensis and Telestes dabar by the possession of the following combination of characters: slightly curved, relatively narrow dark stripe (obvious in most preserved specimens) present on ventral portion of trunk from just behind operculum to vertical at or anterior to origin of anal fin, this stripe separated from dark pigmented area on back along its entire length; scales on most of body not overlapping; mouth subterminal with tip of mouth cleft at or below level of ventral margin of eye; snout not fleshy; lateral line complete with 55-67 total scales; branched dorsal-fin rays 8½; branched anal-fin rays 8½; gill rakers usually 8-10, mode 9; total vertebrae usually 40 or 41; abdominal vertebrae 22-23, mode 23; caudal vertebrae 16-18, mode 18; head width 48-58% HL, and lower jaw short, length 8-10% SL (Ref. 89938).