Description: Body slightly compressed, its depth a little greater than the head length (Ref. 87017). Caudal peduncle relatively deep, its depth 1.25-1.65 in its length (Ref. 87017). Snout rounded, shorter than the diameter of the eye; barbels well developed, anterior 0.50-0.75 times, and posterior 1.00-1.33 times the diameter of the eye (Ref. 87017). Dorsal-fin origin above or slightly in advance of the pelvic-fin origin; dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 7-8 branched rays; the first unbranched ray is minute and hardly visible; the last unbranched ray is flexible and unossified; the last branched ray in both the dorsal and anal fins may be deeply divided, almost to its base (Ref. 87017). Midlateral longitudinal scale series with 25-27 scales, lateral line pores limited to the first 4-9 scales; 4-4.5 scales between the lateral line and the dorsal-fin origin; 2-3 scales between the lateral line and the pelvic-fin origin; 12 scales around the caudal peduncle; 9-10 scales in the predorsal row (Ref. 87017).

Colouration: In life watery brown dorsally, paler beneath, with a brassy metallic area on the operculum (Ref. 87017). Preserved specimens with dorsal surface of the head and body brownish, the scales are outlined in a reticulum of small spots, except on the ventral surface; typically there are 3 dark spots on the sides of the body, the last and usually largest, being situated on the base of the caudal; a thin, rather indistinct midlateral stripe runs from the first to the last of these spots; in a few specimens, the middle spot of this series may be doubled on one side, or this or the more anterior of the spots, may be indistinct; further small patches of dark pigment are apparent at the dorsal-fin origin and the base of the anal fin, in some specimens (Ref. 87017).