Eyes rudimentary but distinct, covered by skin, approximately equal in size to diameter to posterior naris. Interorbital broad. Mouth large, jaws ending posteriorly well beyond a vertical with posterior margin of eye. Short, compressed and gently rounded teeth in outermost row in both jaws; number of teeth in outer row of upper jaw 10-19, of lower jaw 22-42; fang-like teeth and symphysial canines absent. Outer surface of opercular bones with numerous minute cavities. Ventral surface of each side of lower jaw with 2-3 pairs of short, thin barbels. Head and body compressed; except for snout and ventral surface of lower jaw, are covered with large cycloid scales, embedded, non-imbricated, largest posteriorly. Pectoral fins longer than pelvic fins (113-203% of pelvic length) and pointed posteriorly; all pectoral-fin rays simple, free from fin membrane (except for some of the ventralmost rays). First 2 pterygiophores of 2nd dorsal fin separated by a neural spine. Spinous dorsal-fin pterygiophore formula 3-12210. Caudal fin long, more than twice HL (Ref. 45319).