The third pattern, found in B. melanurus, has the caudal fin completely dark. The coloration pattern is useful for separating species, but apparently does not allow inferences about phylogenetic relationships to be safely made, since this character is widespread in this family.
Three color patterns of the caudal fin in Batrochoglanis species are known. The first pattern, in B. raninus, B. transmontanus and B. acanthochiroides, is a light caudal fin, with a dark band on the posterior third.