This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII,9; pectoral fins 15-16; gill rakers 7 + 19-20 = 26-27; lateral line scales 33-36; body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 24% SL and at anal-fin origin 20-21% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 9.2-9.4% SL; maximum head depth 24% SL; head depth through eye 21-22% SL; head length 32-33%SL; orbit length 9.1-9.8% SL; upper jaw length 14-15% SL; barbel length 20-21% SL; caudal-fin length 28-29% SL; anal-fin height 16-17% SL; pelvic-fin length 20% SL; pectoral-fin length 23-24% SL; first dorsal-fin height 20-21% SL; second dorsal-fin height 16-17% SL; 8-10 total bars on caudal fin, 5-6 dark bars on upper caudal-fin lobe (including 1 bar close to the rear end of lateral line) and color of bars changing from pale brown proximally to dark brown or black at the rear caudal-fin margin and tip in fresh fish; 3-4 of same color on lower lobe, slightly increasing in width distally, 1 often at tip and smaller, the distal-most 2-3 bars almost entirely dark brown or black (caudal bars retained on preserved fish); black first dorsal-fin tip (retained on preserved fish); white barbels; lateral body stripes absent; head and body silvery laterally with snout and dorsal part of head and body reddish, belly white (in preserved fish, coloration partly retained and body dorsally darkened) (Ref. 82903).