It originates in inland waters in Asia, and is found in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar.

Males are yellowish all over, and the anal and ventral fins show shades of orange.

It is superficially similar to the rosy barb, Pethia conchonius, but it has a reddish-orange spot on the gill plate and a more pointed dorsal fin.

It natively inhabits rivers, canals, ponds, ditches, and inundated fields, over a silt and mud substrate.

The onespot barb is of commercial importance in the aquarium trade industry.