Diagnosis: mouth subterminal; two pairs of moderately developed barbels; anterior pair reaching or slightly beyond anterior border of eye, posterior pair reaching to the posterior half of eye; lateral line complete and straight; 24-27 scales in lateral line; 3.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 3.5 scales between lateral line and mid-belly; 2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 12 scales around caudal peduncle; dorsal fin with slightly concave border; 8 branched dorsal fin rays; last simple dorsal-fin ray flexible and smooth on hind margin; no black spots; black stripe in middle of sides from opercle to end of caudal peduncle, terminating in small round spot at base of caudal fin; dorsal fin with spot slightly above mid-height of fin, but tip of fin colorless; maximum reported size 70 mm SL (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).

Description: medium-sized species (Ref. 81639). Dorsal profile slightly convex; pit-lines on head clearly visible; D:III,8; A:III,5; P:15-16; V:8; gill rakers on first branchial arch: 1-2+4-5 (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639), plus papillous tissue on lower limb of first arch (Ref. 81639).

Coloration: black band along middle of sides, from gill cover to posterior part of caudal peduncle, ending in round spot at caudal-fin base; dorsal fin with black spot at mid-height, but fin-tip colorless as in B. callipterus; lateral-line scales, as well as scales on back, lined with pigment, the margination being more intense along lateral line (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).