Diagnosis: mouth subterminal; two pairs of short barbels; anterior pair not exceeding anterior margin of eye, posterior pair not reaching to anterior half of eye; lateral line complete and horizontal or slightly depressed below dorsal fin; scale formula 3.5/22-27/3.5; 2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 12 scales around caudal peduncle; 8 branched dorsal fin rays; last simple dorsal-fin ray smooth on hind margin; no color pattern on sides; black spot on dorsal fin, but tip of fin colorless; maximum reported size 65 mm SL (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).

Description: medium-sized species; dorsal profile slightly convex; lines of cephalic pores well visible (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639). D:III,8; A:III,5; dorsal fin with slightly concave border, last simple ray flexible, not serrated, nearly as long as head (Ref. 81639).

Coloration: ground color light, darker on back; lateral-line scales sometimes edged with black; in live specimens dorsal and caudal fins orange-red at base, other fins colorless; typical black spot on anterior dorsal-fin rays, above mid-height of fin, distal tip colorless (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).