Schistura andrewi is distinguished from other congeners from the Kaladan basin and its adjacent basins by having the combination of the following characters: axillary pelvic lobe long; lateral line complete with 82-95 pores; dorsal and anal fins with 2 unbranched rays; 6-7 broad, wider than interspace, black bars on the body; 2 rows of black spots horizontally across the dorsal fin; a deeply emarginate caudal fin with 2 vertical rows of black spots across the fin, and 9 + 8 branched caudal fin rays; a sub-orbital flap present in males; and intestine looped behind the stomach (Ref. 97391).