This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: a chevron-shaped thoracic adhesive apparatus extending anteriorly onto gular region with more or less pointed anterior apex at isthmus, unculiferous striae prominent anteriorly from tip of median depression; body depth at anus 12.8-14.1% SL; head length 25.1-28.8 % SL; interorbital width 12.0-20.0 % HL; post-adipose distance 16.0-18.4 % SL; posterior margin of pectoral-fin spine with 14-18 serrae; nasal barbel not reaching anterior margin of eye; arrow-shaped anterior nuchal plate element; ventral surface of pectoral spine and first pelvic-fin ray non-plaited; 9-10 branched anal-fin rays; and vertical through pelvic-fin origin posterior to base of last dorsal-fin ray, head and body mottled with dark brown spots and smooth skin (Ref. 137936).