Triplophysa waisihani belongs to the T. labiata species-group that is characterized by having widely separated anterior and posterior nostrils and no breeding tubercles on the sides of the head. It resembles T. labiata and T. herzensteini, with which it shares the presence of a columnar caudal peduncle with an

approximately circular cross-section at its beginning, but differs from both in possessing supraorbital and infraorbital canals that are not confluent (vs. confluent); and the posterior chamber of the gas bladder connected to the anterior chamber by a long duct, twice as long as the posterior chamber (vs. connected to the

anterior chamber by a shorter duct than the posterior chamber in T. labiata, or strongly reduced in T. herzensteini). It further differs from T. labiata in the possession of an anteriorly bifurcated (vs. non-bifurcated) pelvic girdle and in the absence (vs. presence) of the fourth basibranchial, and from T. herzensteini in having a truncate or slightly convex (vs. concave) distal margin of the anal fin (Ref. 79615).

Coloration of live specimens: ground colour of back, and lateral body gray, somewhat lighter ventrally; ventral region of body yellowish white. Six or seven brown transverse bars on predorsal region, five or six bars on postdorsal region of body. Many spots on flank above lateral line and area directly below. A longitudinal

light-yellow stripe running along lateral line, becoming increasingly narrower and ending at vertical through vent. Dorsal and caudal fins dusky. Dorsal surfaces of pectoral and pelvic fins gray. Anal fin hyaline (Ref. 79615).