This species is distinguished by the following characters: pelvic fin rays 7-8; pectoral fin rays 14-15; short, barely projecting snout, 15-17% HL; long barbel, 30-35% HL, reaching vertical through center of orbit; large orbit diameter, 35-38% HL; infraorbital width 10-12% HL; moderately long preopercular supporter, with straight rear margin, 6-7% HL; 18-20 gill rakers; ventral striae reaching to ½ distance from pelvic fin bases to periproct; otolith has high predorsal lobe, with colliculi separated, closely placed across collum; otolith length to height (OL:OH), 1.05; total colliculum length to pseudocolliculum length (TCL:PCL), 1.6 (Ref. 98298).