Diagnosis: mouth subinferior; two pairs of rather long barbels, anterior pair reaching to posterior half of eye, posterior pair sometimes extending beyond posterior border of eye; lateral line complete and depressed below dorsal fin; 27-30 scales in lateral line; 4.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 3.5-4.5 scales between lateral line and mid-belly; 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 black spots; small black regular longitudinal stripe on sides curved upwards beneath dorsal fin; maximum reported size 50 mm SL (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).

Description: dorsal profile slightly convex; D:III,8; A:III,5 (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639). Mouth relatively broad (Ref. 2940, 81282).

Coloration: narrow black longitudinal band running from gill cover to posterior part of caudal peduncle, where it becomes slightly broader; band curves slightly upwards below dorsal fin, distinctly diverging from the lateral line in this sector; sides silvery in life; dorsal and caudal fins pale pink (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).