This species is distinguished by having a unique barbel structure: short barbel, its length 13.9% SL; 3 branches arising at distal one-fourth of the barbel stem; distal tip of the 3 branches extend distinctly beyond terminal bulb; medial branch thicker than lateral branches; two long and one very short secondary branches arising from middle of medial branch; two short secondary branches arising from near base of each lateral branch; each branch with 5-14 dendritic appendages comprised 1-15 tiny luminous swellings; simple terminal bulb without terminal filaments; stem and branches solidly pigmented (skin rubbed off in some parts) except for dorsolateral surface of terminal bulb and blotchy unpigmented distal 1/3 of secondary branches of medial branch (Ref. 121636).