Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at least 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels unbranched, longer than head, without tubercles and bordered by a black basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with short and simple ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels subdivided/dichotomous but not tuberculate; mandibular teeth numbering 49-82 (64 in the lectotype); denticulations of pectoral-fin spines stronger on inner than on outer margin; dorsal-fin spine smooth anteriorly; only first branched dorsal-fin ray prolonged into a filament; humeral process triangular and granulose, deep, not keeled ventrally; adipose fin normally developed, truncate posteriorly and distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin; eyes large (Ref. 57223).

Coloration: body entirely brownish (including ventral areas); numerous small black spots, particularly on head, but sometimes also on sides and fins (Ref. 57223).