A reddish body colour gives rise to the name kelah merah (red mahseer) in some parts of mainland Malaysia.

[2] There have been suggestions that the size and length of the median lobe may be a key to species identity, but this has been proven to be a mistake.

[4] These fish have been found throughout Southeast Asia, ranging from Thailand in the Chao Phraya and Mekong River basins to the Greater Sunda Islands and Malaysia.

Common to all mahseer species, Tor tambra is omnivorous, sometimes eating toxic fruits when the streams it inhabits flood the forest; this may make them temporarily inedible.

Dam building, loss of habitat and over-fishing using destructive methods are the main threats to wild populations.