This species is distinguished from its congeners by having four distinct dark stripes (P+1, P, P-1, P-2) along the middle of the side, and also a short or long stripe abdominally (stripe P-3). Danio quagga is similar to Danio kyathit by having the horizontal stripe pattern, but the stripes are broken up into rows of spots in the latter; differs in having the rostral barbel short, reaching at most to posterior margin of orbit (vs. reaching to opercle); maxillary barbel reaching to little beyond pectoral-fin base (vs. to middle of pectoral fin); head 22.8-24.8 % SL (vs. 25.3-26.1); pectoral-fin 23.5-25.8 % SL (vs. 26.8-29.8); shorter predorsal lengths 56.1-59.5 % SL (vs. 60.6-63.6); interorbital width narrower 9.0-10.8 % SL (vs. 10.7-12.0). Danio quagga differs from D. rerio with similar striped colour pattern, by having 4 distinct dark stripes above the pectoral fin (vs. 3); horizontal dark stripes slightly ventrad slanting (vs. horizontal; no dark stripes across caudal fin lobes (vs. present) (Ref. 82738).