This species is distinguished by the following characters: lateral line usually complete (15-37 pored scales, mode 35); barbels are conspicuous, not surpassing the vertical through middle of eye; circumpeduncular scales (14-16, mode 14) (Ref. 124213).

Description: Description. Based on the holotype and 80 specimens from the Great Fish, Keiskamma and Buffalo river systems, the following characterize this species: body fusiform with body slightly compressed laterally; dorsal profile more convex than ventral profile from the tip of the snout to origin of dorsal fin; post dorsal profile generally straight and descending from origin of dorsal fin to caudal fin insertion; body depth greatest around the anterior bases of the dorsal and pelvic fins, tapering from posterior margin of dorsal fin base to base of caudal fin; head is relatively short, its length almost equal to body depth; snout short and bluntly rounded, its mouth small and terminal with a single pair of posterior barbels; barbels not surpassing the middle portion of the eye; eyes round and relatively large, situated dorsolaterally, nearer to the tip of the snout than the distal margin of the operculum; no tubercles; scales moderately large, radiately striated; lateral line usually complete (mode 35), with only 3 of the 81 specimens examined had lateral line with fewer than 15 pored scales; circumpendicular scales 12-16 (mode 16); pre-dorsal scale rows 14-16; scale rows between the origin of the dorsal fin and the lateral line 3-4 (mode 4); scale rows between the origin of the pelvic fin and the lateral line 3-4 (mode 4); scale rows between lateral line and anal fin origin 3-4 (mode 4); scales between posterior edge of head and dorsal fin are embedded and smaller than flank scales; dorsal fin almost in the centre of the body, with 3 unbranched and 7 branched rays; pectoral fins are fan-shaped, the posterior edges gently rounded, not reaching pelvic fin origin; pelvic fin with 8 rays, its origin slightly in front of dorsal fin origin, tip when adpressed does not reach anal fin origin; anal fin with 3 simple rays, 5 branched rays, its distal margin almost straight and origin closer to pelvic fin origin than to caudal fin base; caudal fin forked, its lobes gently rounded with moderately pointed tips. Colouration of live and fresh specimens metallic silvery, greenish or greyish above, with a more or less distinct yellow or golden tinge in males, more greyish in females; a black spot isoften present at the base of the caudal fin (Ref. 124213).