Diagnosis: No barbels; snout very short, its length less than or equal to eye diameter; postorbital length more than half head length (Ref. 4967). 18 soft rays for caudal fin (Ref. 40476). Diagnosed from rather similar species Mylopharyngodon piceus by having the following characters: body olive to brassy green above, silvery white to yellow below; body cylindrical; pharyngeal teeth laterally compressed, serrated, with a groove along grinding surface, usually in two rows, 2,5-4,2 (Ref. 59043).

Description: Body sub-cylindrical (Ref. 52193). Head pointed; mouth terminal; eyes nearer tip of snout than hind margin of head, lateral in position (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 7-8 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 8 branched rays; dorsal fin short, midway between tip of snout and end of caudal peduncle, origin slightly in front of pelvic fins (Ref. 52193). Scales in lateral line 37-42; 16 scales around caudal peduncle (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Body silvery, head and fins dark grey (Ref. 52193).