Description: Body moderately compressed; dorsal profile of head with a gentle slope up to first dorsal-fin base (Ref. 3290, 56505). Head width 17.5-20.5% of standard length; mouth with 3 pairs of barbels, the maxillary pair extending to pectoral-fin base; head shield granulated behind orbit with a blunt conical protuberance above eye; supraoccipital process short, with a median keel, as long as broad at base, its hind end rounded; median longitudinal groove shallow, wide in the middle, tapering at the ends, not reaching to supraoccipital process; predorsal plate angular, cup-shaped (Ref. 3290, 56505). A single pair of ovoid vomerine tooth patches; premaxillary band of teeth in upper jaw in a broad band, 5 times as long as broad, mandibular band of teeth in lower jaw slightly curved and medially interrupted; 2 large tooth patches on roof of mouth, one on each side, well separated from each other with concave inner margins, and rounded or globular teeth (Ref. 3290, 56505). First dorsal and pectoral fins each with a strong spine; dorsal and pectoral fin outermost ray prolonged; pectoral fin filament almost reaching pelvic fins in some specimens; pelvic fin also elongated, reaching anal fin in larger individuals; total anal fin rays 16 (Ref. 3290).

Colouration: Dorsal surface of head and body uniform grey to greyish brown, upper third of head and body darkest, gradually fading to a lighter colour along middle third of head and body; lower third and ventral surfaces of head and body dirty white (Ref. 56505). Adipose fin grey, dorsal and caudal fins greyish, fin-rays of all other fins with scattered grey melanophores (Ref. 3290, 56505).