Distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: D 12 (iii + I-II + 7-8), A 10 (iii + II + 5); anal-fin origin in vertical through middle dorsal-fin base; P 7 (I + 6); pelvic-fin rays 5 (I + 4); principal caudal-fin rays 13 (I + 11 + I); 41 vertebrae; ribs 15; a large black blotches irregularly arranged, often partially coalesced on the flank; almost posteriorly folded extremity of the doral process of the opercle; narrow postero-dorsal projection on the preopercle; 8 branchiostegal rays; 13 dorsal procurrent caudal-fin rays; opercular and interopercular postero-dorsal odontodes only slightly wider and more curved than the other odontodes. Colouration (in alcohol): pale yellow flank, dorsum and side of head, with irregularly-arranged large black blotches, usually partially coaslesced on flank; greyish white ventral part of head; black barbels; pale grey fins with black spots on basal area (Ref. 129458).