Distinguished from all congeners in having highly elevated supraoccipital spine and nuchal plate. Differs further from congeners in having a unique combination of the following characters: highly contrasting light brown patches on a chocolate brown body; lack of filamentous extensions to the first pectoral-fin element; presence of 5-6 serrations on the posterior edge of pectoral spine; eye diameter 6-9% of head length; branchiostegal membranes meeting at isthmus ventrally; outer mandibular barbels reaching middle of pectoral-fin base; and rounded tubercles on the tip of the snout and dorsal surface of neurocranium (Ref. 55975).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays I,4,i or I,5; Anal-fin rays iii,5,i, iv,5,i, or iv,6 ; Pectoral fin rays I,7 or I,6,i; Pelvic fin rays i,5.