Description: Body narrow and slender, caudal peduncle longer than deep (Ref. 52193). Head depressed, short, 4.75-5 times in standard length, 1.1-1.3 times distance between head and dorsal fin; narrow, head width less than head length; eyes small, dorsal; mouth subterminal, 3 pairs of barbels, maxillaries reach pectoral base (Ref. 52193). Dorsal fin with 1 unbranched and 6 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5-6 branched rays; adipose fin short with a notch behind in KwaZulu-Natal populations, or long, low and confluent behind in Mpumalanga and Zimbabwe populations; caudal fin forked (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Colour variable, usually spotted or mottled brown, sometimes dark brown, nearly black (Ref. 52193).