This species is characterized by the following: fusiform body covered with bony plates with head large and depressed; broad snout, with short, triangular rostral projection on each side, nearly parallel to each other; interorbital region concave and with no distinct ridges; head with supraocular, parietal, posttemporal, opercular, and preopercular spines; large and inferior mouth with posterior tip of upper jaw reaching point below anterior border of orbit; upper jaw with villiform teeth; no teeth on lower jaw, vomer and palatine; 1-2 short barbels on lip, none on chin; body plates arranged in 4 rows, each plate with single, posteriorly directed spine; plates in upper lateral row lack anteriorly directed spine; anterior 4 (or 5) plates small; lower lateral row of bony plates ending at caudal peduncle and separated from the other side; 4 (or 5) plates along ventral region anterior to anus, with the most anterior largest; dorsal fin origin between first and second bony plates in dorsal row, ending on anterior part of caudal peduncle; anal fin origin just posterior to anus, also terminating on anterior part of caudal peduncle; pectoral fin reaching posteriorly to near anus length; 2 ventralmost pectoral fin rays detached, large and thickened; pelvic fin reach posteriorly to point between origin of dorsal and anus fins; when fresh, colour of head and dorsal part of body pale red, ventral part of body whitish; dorsal part with yellowish-green spots; fins mostly whitish; 2 dusky bands on pectoral fin (Ref. 93670).