[1] Common snowtrout have streamlined body with smooth and soft skin covered in small scales to assist cutaneous respiration.

The upper jaw is longer than the lower part (inferior mouth) with a strip of hard papillated structure at chin called the adhesive organ; two pairs of barbels which are smaller than eye diameter.

The keratinized lips help this species scraping off algae from the substrate as well as providing sturdy grip on the rocks in fast-flowing waters of Himalaya.

There is tiled row of scales forming a sheath on either side of vent and anal fin, with lateral line complete and is arched.

[7] This species have the upper tolerance around 20 °C (68 °F) and are able to remain active in the near zero temperature in the streams of Lesser and Greater Himalayas during December and January.

This species has the proper adaptation for the fast-flowing water such as the streamlined body which helps them move easily against the torrential flow of the streams.

[10] The small scales reduce friction and the absence or reduction of lipidosis on the ventral part of their bodies enable to press themselves against the substrate.

[4] The common snowtrout is reported to have territoriality behavior and has been observed to chase intruders to defend the limited food resource and available shelter.

[12] There have been observations indicating that Schizothoracines including S. richardsonii exhibit multiple spawning throughout the year following the temperature rise and flow rates which support egg laying.

The reason is the gonads fully mature in winter, but they are in dormant phase due to the low temperature, thus the fish spawn only on the returning favorable conditions in spring.

This species lay eggs in shallow pools of 50 –70 cm depth and remain adhered to the bottom until the fry hatch.

[16] This species also has big contribution to fisheries in the Lesser and Greater Himalaya is usually fished during winter in the lower reaches of Himalayan rivers.

Threats to common snowtrout include habitat fragmentation, slow growth, poor disease resistance and low survival rates.