Diagnosis: scutes on body expanded; interorbit wide, width 1.5-2 times orbit diameter; caudal peduncle long, less than 3 times in SL and extremely slender, length more than 18 times depth (Ref. 81646).

Description: body firm and box-like, slender and attenuated, depressed, tapered to bony caudal peduncle; intricate pattern of vermiculate unculi on dorsal surface of head and anterior body of both sexes; dorsal and ventral bilateral series of bony scutes along body, dorsally from adjacent to dorsal fin base, ventrally from behind pelvic fins, caudal peduncle encased in bony plates; head 5.3-7.1 times in SL, depressed, obtusely pointed; snout bony, slightly longer than postorbit; nostrils separated, on anterior snout; eyes small, interorbital width 1.5-2.25 times orbit diameter; mouth subterminal, small and oval-shaped; lips fleshy and papillose, lower lip divided by triangular pad; barbels short, tapered and papillose, maxillary pair with broad basal membrane, half of head length; branchiostegal membrane undivided and emarginate ventrally; supraoccipital process conspicuous, broad and obtusely pointed, narrowly separated from nuchal shield; humeral process short, pointed; origin of dorsal fin less than one head length behind head; dorsal fin base before pelvics; dorsal fin pointed with concave hind edge; pectoral fins pointed, leading ray curved, pectinate, padded, not reaching base of pelvics; pelvics pointed, leading ray curved, pectinate, padded, origin behind dorsal fin base, reaches anterior base of anal fin; anal well-developed, hind edge straight; caudal base compact, forked with pointed lobes; adipose short, rounded, over posterior anal fin base; ano-genital pores close behind pelvic bases; males with short conical papilla; body with bilateral series of widely spaced pores, demarcated with dark pigment (Ref. 81646).

Coloration: greyish brown to black above with lighter supraoccipital spur and 3 broad light dorsal saddle patches, light cream-brown below on head and chest; fins with black band over mid-section, dorsal and caudal with black basal patches and tips (Ref. 81646).