Diagnosis: eyes with free orbital rim; dorsal and anal fins long, 62-72% SL (mean 68) and 45-61% SL (mean 55), respectively, but not fused to caudal fin; skull large and broad, width 71-86% (mean 78) skull length; external mandibular barbel more than half of skull length (Ref. 81644).

Description: body slender and elongate (abdominal depth 8-18% SL, mean 12); pectoral and pelvic fin size decreases with increasing body size, pectoral fin ranging between 73% in small specimens to 45% in large specimens (as percentage of skull length); pectoral spine about half length of fin, with anterior margin more heavily serrated than posterior one; supraoccipital process pointed; barbels long, maxillary barbel more than 1.5 times skull length in large specimens (69-182% skull length, mean 112); premaxillary tooth plate about 5 times as long as broad; orbit with free margin (Ref. 81644).

Coloration: body dark olive-brown dorsally, whitish ventrally; dorsal and anal fins darker, both fins frequently with a pale (reddish) margin, also observable in caudal fin (Ref. 81644). Preserved specimens: more uniformly brown (to greyish brown) slightly paler ventrally and with paler fins; caudal fin sometimes with a dark submarginal band (Ref. 81644).