This species is distinguished from its congeners by the following set of characters: mouth subterminal, weakly oblique to nearly horizontal (less than or equal to 20° to midline of body); presence of maxillary barbels; edge of rostral cap is straight, no medial indent; most specimens, particularly larger individuals, have longitudinal stripes on flanks; caudal peduncle with small brown spot at medial insertion of caudal fin in smaller specimens; caudal fin is mostly clear, with scattered melanophores; pectoral, pelvic, and anal fins hyaline in life (Ref. 123185).