This species is distinguished by the following characters: pelvic fin rays 12-14 (usually 13-14); pectoral fin rays 14-17; projecting snout, 20-25% HL; short barbel, 4-5% HL, does not reach vertical through anterior margin of orbit; moderate orbit diameter, 28-35% HL; infraorbital width 12-15% HL; moderately long preopercular supporter, with angle at rear margin, 5-6% HL; 23-28 gill rakers; ventral striae reaching to ½ to ? distance from pelvic fin bases to periproct; otolith has moderately high predorsal lobe, with colliculi separated, closely placed across collum, terminating at some distance from anterior and posterior rims of otolith; otolith length to height (OL:OH), 1.05; total colliculum length to pseudocolliculum length (TCL:PCL), 2.6-2.8 (Ref. 98298).