Diagnosis: snout without transverse furrow, but non-tuberculate space present separating anterior extremity from rest of snout; profile of anterior extremity is truncate and oblique; scale formula: 38-39 (38 commonly observed); 4.5-5.5 (5.5 commonly observed); 3.0-3.5 (3.0 commonly observed); 15-17 (16 commonly observed); dorsal fin with 9 branched rays; upper edge of dorsal fin always concave; 32-33 (32 commonly observed) vertebrae; ventral fin origin located under the 3rd branched dorsal ray; genital opening close to anal fin origin; longitudinal band present, flared over the scaled base of caudal fin (Ref. 81639).

Description: body more or less compressed, dorsal profile straight but somewhat inclined anterior to dorsal fin; dorsal interocular profile is flat, and head is dorso-ventrally flattened; eyes supero-laterally positioned and not visible in ventral view; two very small pairs of barbels but not visible externally; caudal fin feebly notched, with lobes little developed (Ref. 81639).

Coloration: in preservation, dark brown or blackish above lateral line, blackish white ventrally; dark brown longitudinal band is usually expanded posteriorly over scaled dorsal fin base; according to Ref. 83889, specimens in life are reddish purple; ventral head region and belly white or pale grey (Ref. 81639).