Diagnosis: gill slits not extending ventrally beyond pectoral-fin insertions; post-orbital length at most 60% of snout length; maxillary barbels broadly fringed, shorter than head, unbranched and without tubercles, but with a broad, dark brown basal membrane; outer mandibular barbels with few, short and thick ramifications; branches of inner mandibular barbels more numerous, short, subdivided and tuberculate; width of premaxillary tooth plate comprised at least twice in eye diameter; mandibular teeth rather short, numbering 19-37 (29 in the holotype); dorsal-fin spine smooth on anterior margin; humeral process small and triangular, not distinctly keeled, but nevertheless swollen ventrally; adipose fin rather long, but very low and distinctly separated from rayed dorsal fin; coloration very dark, caudal fin lobes not black edged (Ref. 57223).

Coloration: body more or less uniformly blackish on back and sides, ventral areas light; fins dark brown (Ref. 57223).