Differs from all congeners in having 18-21 gill rakers on first arch; slightly granulated cephalic shield; and orbit diameter 11.7-18.9% of external mental barbel length. Additional diagnostic characters include 17-21 gill rakers on second arch; snout length 6.1-8.0% SL; orbital diameter 3.3-4.4% SL; absence of fleshy papillae intercalated with gill rakers on first two gill arches; dorsal-fin spine length 18.6-22.2%SL; dorsal-fin spine longer than pectoral-fin spine; dorsal-fin spine length 35.6-43.3% of distance from tip of snout to pelvic-fin origin; nuchal plate length 6.3-7.5; width of posterior portion of supraoccipital process 2.7-3.3% SL; length of accessory tooth plates 2.6-4.7%SL; premaxilla width 5.7-7.7%SL; supraoccipital process length 3.1-4.5 in maxillary barbel length; supraoccipital process length 2.1-3.1 in external mental barbel length; distance from tip to snout to posterior margin of dorsomedian groove of neurocranium 20.9-26.3% SL; distance between lateral cornu of lateral ethmoid and external limb of the supracleithrum 20.4-25.9% SL and pelvic fin pale (Ref. 75004).