This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: body small, elongate, with head depressed; with a poorly-developed callous pad behind lower lip; the pad not distinctly delimited posteriorly; head is deep (depth at occiput 47.3-72.3% HL); body stout and deep (depth at dorsal fin origin 17.3-21.7 % SL); gape width 27.3-32.8% HL; inter-orbital space 33.9-43.2% HL; eyes visible in ventral view; lower lip is rounded; mouth is small, inferior and horizontal, the mouth opening situated very close to anterior tip of snout; upper lip is concealed by poorly-developed slightly fringed rostral fold; rostral fold with minute papillae; simple pectoral-fin rays 3; lateral-line scales 33-34 (Ref. 122022).