Diagnosis: mouth subterminal; two pairs of barbels, anterior pair reaching beyond anterior border of eye, posterior pair extending well beyond posterior border of eye; lateral line complete; 22-24 scales in lateral line; 12 scales around caudal peduncle; posterior margin of dorsal fin straight; last simple ray of dorsal fin ossified and serrated in large specimens; large dark stripe on sides; found in the Ogowe (Gabon) and Kouilou (Republic of Congo) (Ref. 81639).

Description: medium-sized species; scales with divergent striae; 3.5-4.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 3.5-4.5 scales between lateral line and mid-belly; 1.5-2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic fin insertion; D:III,8; A:III,5; P:8; V:12-15; dorsal fin with concave border, last simple ray ossified, serrated in large specimens (Ref. 81639).

Coloration: ground color dark dorsally, pale ventrally; black longitudinal band extending from tip of snout onto median rays of caudal fin; scales with brown basal borders; red spot on opercle; dorsal simple rays dark and sometimes the whole of the tip of the fin is dark; pectoral and caudal fins grey; pelvic and anal fins transparent with some chromatophores (Ref. 81639).