Systomus laticeps is distinguished from all its congeners in having the following characters: elongated, round and wide body; small and wide head; hyaline fins; a prominent hump present on the post occipital region, convex post dorsal region, exceptionally soft and flexible operculum and body scales, a distinct thin median fontanel on the dorsal surface of head in between eyes and occiput; lateral line indistinct in the anterior and posterior regions; it is convex above anal fin origin; inter-radial membrane of anal fin fleshy, thick and prominent; and 27 lateral line scales and 9 predorsal scales (Ref. 112401)..