Diagnosis: body elongate, very slender and cylindrical, its depth comprised over 8 times in standard length; head short and deep, its length over 5 times in standard length; dorsal-fin origin usually above or slightly behind pelvic-fin insertions; caudal peduncle length over twice its depth; anal fin with 7 or more branched rays; caudal fin with 6 + 7 principal rays (Ref. 57128).

Description: eyes small and wide-spaced, positioned far forwards; snout quadrangular; mouth broad and subterminal, lips slightly fleshy; barbels long and filamentous, reaching to pectoral-fin bases; branchiostegal membrane divided by a deep ventral notch; head fleshy, cheeks swollen, the lower-jaw muscles running before and behind eye to their insertion points on top of head; dorsal, pectoral and pelvic fins short and rounded, their largest simple ray very small and flexible; anal fin rather large; adipose fin elongate, low and confluent with caudal fin; lateral line interrupted (Ref. 57128).

Coloration: pale brown above, lighter on belly; small, dark brown spots irregularly scattered over back; usually a black spot on caudal-fin base and a black bar across upper half of caudal fin (Ref. 57128).