Diagnosis: head width usually less than 2/3 of standard length (Ref. 57126). Snout long and pointed, generally greater than half the head length in adults (Ref. 28714), length more than 0.9 times the head width in adults (less in juveniles) (Ref. 57126). Hind margin of adipose fin rounded; premaxillary dentition forming (in adults) two close-set oval plates (Ref. 57126). Maxillary barbel often blackish and only rarely reaching to anterior margin of opercula (Ref. 57126), usually not reaching beyond eye and much shorter than outer mandibular barbel (Ref. 28714, 81642). 8-12 (usually 10 or 11) gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; palatine membrane with multiple invaginations, 1-4 of them forming longer lobes; dorsal margin of cleithral process ending in a point (visible only in adults)(Ref. 57126).

Description: body rather deep, a little less robust than Auchenoglanis biscutatus (Ref. 57126), body depth comprised 3.5-5 times in standard length (Ref. 4903, 57126). Head 2.75-3.5 times in SL (Ref. 4903). Occipital process broad, rounded, contiguous to first nuchal plate, the ratio width/length 0.9 (juveniles) to 1.6 (adults)(Ref. 57126). Dorsal fin with 2 spines, 1st small, 2nd strong (Ref. 57126, 81642) and denticulate (Ref. 4903, 57126). Adipose fin large, increasing in height backwards, its posterior margin rounded; palatine membrane with many well differentiated lobes; dorsal process of cleithrum with an upward-directed point (visible only in adults); premaxillary dentition forming a small band in juveniles (twice as long as broad), developing with growth into 2 close-set, kidney-shaped plates, the entire band being 1.0-1.3 times as long as large (Ref. 57126). Premaxillary toothplate less than 10% HL (Ref. 81642). Head less broad (width 59-64% of length in juveniles and 61-68% in adults), snout short (48-55% of head length) in juveniles, but elongate (57-63% of head length) in adults; nasal barbels absent; pelvic fin with 1 unbranched and 5 branched soft rays (Ref. 57126). Anal fin with 3-4 unbranched and 7-8 branched soft rays (Ref. 681). Pectoral spine strong, granulate (or even with a few low spines) on its outer face, strongly serrated on the inner face (Ref. 4903).

Coloration: body marbled in juveniles, with 7-8 transverse series of black spots, uniformly brown in adults; fins also marbled in juveniles; uniformly brownish, sometimes with large, rounded, poorly defined, dark brown spots in adults (Ref. 57126), lending the body a reticulate appearance (Ref. 81642). Generally, blotches become less conspicuous in older specimens (Ref. 81642), being more intense in small fishes invariably present (Ref. 4903).