Diagnosis: snout with deep transverse furrow terminating in a fleshy upwards turned transverse appendage; prominent, large and somewhat pointed, 44.6-60.0% of HL, with a deep and wide transverse furrow and ending in a fleshy appendage; scale formula: 36-37 (37 commonly observed); 4.0-4.5 (4.5 commonly observed); 2.5-3.0 (3.0 commonly observed); 12-13 (12 commonly observed); dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 9-10 (10 commonly observed) branched rays; upper edge of dorsal fin feebly concave; 31-32 (32 commonly observed) vertebrae; ventral fin origin located under the 5th branched dorsal ray; longitudinal band on flanks (Ref. 81639).

Description: body more or less cylindrical; dorsal profile straight, only slightly inclined in front of dorsal fin; head small, 23.8-29.1% SL and covered with starry or spiny nuptial tubercles; only spiny tubercles occur on cheeks, rostral lobe and caudal fin rays of mature males; outer border of upper lip entire, while lower lip is fringed; eyes small and dorso-laterally positioned; maxillary barbels, with expanded bases, very small and concealed in the skin fold at the mouth corners; rostral barbels are often rudimentary or absent; pectoral fins are short and distant from the ventral fins, latter projecting beyond genital opening, originating beneath the 5th dorsal ray; anal fin is small (Ref. 81639).

Coloration: in preservation, specimens are dark brown dorsally and light brown or orange white beneath; deepened dark brown longitudinal band well-developed on each side passing from head to the scaly caudal fin; caudal fin lobes dark brown on more than the posterior half (Ref. 81639).