Description: Dorsal profile of head gently rising to first dorsal-fin base (Ref. 3290). Mouth with 3 pairs of barbels, the maxillary pair extending to slightly beyond orbit, relatively longer in small specimens; head shield rugose and granulated in the hind part near the occipital region; supraoccipital process keeled, strongly elevated transversally, its hind end irregularly convex; median longitudinal groove extending from near extremity of snout, converging posteriorly to base of occipital process; predorsal plate crescentic; premaxillary band of teeth in upper jaw 4 or 5 times as long as broad, mandibulary band of teeth in lower jaw deeply curved, and medially interrupted; palate teeth conical, in 2 small oval, widely separated patches, anterior patch ovate, much smaller than the elongate, carrot-shaped posterior one (Ref. 3290). First dorsal fin and pectoral fins each with a strong spine; total anal fin rays 15-17 (Ref. 3290).

Colouration: Greyish-brown above; silvery below; fins dusky (Ref. 3290).