Diagnosis: mandibular barbels with numerous ramifications, branches rather long and not thickened; base of adipose fin at most 3.6 times distance between dorsal fin and base of adipose fin; head and body more or less spotted; interorbital distance at most 86.6% of snout length; maxillary barbels typically with a large, dark, basal membrane; 28-33 movable mandibular teeth; postocular length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbel 0.8-2.2 times HL; entire margin of opercle smooth; caudal fin without single dark patch at base of each fin lobe; dorsal spine prolonged by a short filament, without serrations along anterior edge (except a few distally), but strongly serrate along posterior edge; caudal fin spotted (Ref. 81251).

Description: mandibular barbels simple, internal pair broad and branched; snout large and subrounded; lips not developed, and papillate; humeral process slightly keeled, granular and pointed; adipose fin short and not deep; anal fin with anterior ray longer; pectoral spine strongly serrated with twice the number of serrations along anterior edge than posterior; pelvic fin not reaching to anal fin; caudal fin deeply forked, with upper lobe slightly longer; caudal peduncle as long as deep (Ref. 81251).

Coloration: grey or dark brownish, also ventrally; more or less spotted, also on head and fins, which may be darker (Ref. 81251).