Diagnosis: adipose fin rayed in adults, 1st ray forming a spine (not visible in juveniles); adipose-fin rays becoming visible at sizes of 90-100 mm SL, and the spine at 200 mm; dentition very well developed: premaxillary tooth plate broad (38-45% of head length), palatine dentition consisting of an elongate vomerine plate and of a dermo-palatine plate in young individuals (60-70 mm SL); palatine tooth plates narrow and long with much weaker dentition; nasal barbel long, reaching at least to anterior part of orbit; maxillary barbel very long, exceeding at least the anterior part of dorsal fin and often reaching to adipose fin; caudal-fin lobes marked by a dark band; cranial bones well developed; length of occipital process usually less than 1.4 times its width (Ref. 57126).

Description: nasal barbels present; pelvic fins with 1 unbranched and 5 branched soft rays; anal fin with 4-6 unbranched and 7-9 branched soft rays (Ref. 57126). Adipose fin in adults has a stiff spine (Ref. 4967).

Coloration: rather uniformly brownish, but often 2 dark bands along body extending unto the caudal-fin lobes (Ref. 57126).