Barilius pulchellus has no, or a small caudal spot, a dorsal fin with dark pigments concentrated in the middle of the interradial regions, and much larger dentary tubercles. Barilius ornatus and similar species have an anal-fin position that opposes the 5th–7th branched dorsal-fin rays (rarely the 4th), or does not overlap with them at all, and have no, or small caudal spots.