Channa pomanensis can be distinguished from all othe channid species occurring in Brahmaputra River basin in India and small hillstream in northern and southern Rakhine State, Myanmar by having the following ocmbination of characters: body with 7 oblique bands, extending to lateral line; a thin preorbital streak; black to brown and broad to thin postorbital streak that confluence with brown to duky cross band across occipital region; light brown somewhat elongate spots on body mostly below lateral line; 2 cycloid sclaes on either underside of lower jaw; 47-51 lateral line scales; dorsal fin with 36-38 rays; anal fin with 25-26 rays; 42-45 total vertebrae; 7-8 predorsal scales; absence of numerous large black spots on postorbital region of head and opercles; transverse scale rows above lateral line 4 1/2 -5 1/2; transverse scale rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin 7 1/2- 8 1/2; presence of pelvic fins (Ref. 116756).1