This species is distinguished from its congeners in the Indian subcontinent by the following swet of characters: an axe-shaped anterior nuchal plate element with extensive contact with the posterior nuchal plate; with plicae on the ventral surface of the pectoral-fin spine and outer rays of pelvic-fin rays; skin is sparsely tuberculated; dorsal-fin spine length 16.3-17.8% SL; thoracic adhesive apparatus elliptical, with lanceolate median depression, its length 16.2-20.7 % SL; predorsal length 36.2-38.1% SL; adipose-fin base length 16.5-18.1% SL; postadipose distance 16.2-17.4% SL; caudal peduncle depth 7.9-9.1% SL; nasal barbel do not reach the anterior margin of the eye; first branchial arch with 2-3 + 4-5 rakers; body with two longitudinal pale-cream stripes, one each along the mid-dorsal line and lateral line (Ref. 120896).