This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: presence of reticulated skin ridges on the ventral surface of pectoral spine and first ray of pelvic fin; an ovate leaf-shaped thoracic adhesive apparatus extending from the isthmus to the level towards the middle of pectoral-fin base; tuberculated skin on the body; absence of serration on the posterior margin of dorsal spine; pectoral-fin spine with 13-15 serrae; dorsal fin located nearer to the tip of snout than to adipose-fin origin; nasal barbel short (20.5-25.1% HL), not reaching the anterior margin of the eye; maxillary barbels extending beyond pectoral-fin base; anterior nuchal plate saddle-like with W-shaped extensions; and presence of two longitudinal light brown stripes, one each along mid-dorsal line and lateral line (Ref. 138478).