Differs from all other congeners in Southeast Asia and China by having a conspicuous, quadrate and forwards pointed proboscis reflected downwards against the snout and anteriorly bilobed with one large, unicuspid and acanthoid tubercle on the distal end of each lobe, and a combination of the following characters: snout with a deep groove across its tip to form a transverse lobe; 34-35 lateral line scales; 16 circumpeduncular scales; a small mental disc (length 38.1-43.8% HL); an anterior position of anus (anus to anal distance 25.9-30.6% of pelvic to anal distance); a slightly pointed snout (Ref. 56230).

Description: dorsal fin with 4 simple and 7-8 branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple and 5 branched rays; pectoral fin with 1 simple and 13-14 branched rays; pelvic fin with 1 simple and 7-8 branched rays (Ref. 56230).