Diagnosis: males with long (> 0.1 mm, up to 0.3 mm) tubercles on dorsal and lateral surfaces of head, females with comparatively longer (ca. 0.05 mm vs 0.02 mm) tubercles than congeners (Ref. 52369, 81251). Adipose fin very long, its base 34.6-37.9% SL; body without numerous dark brown elongate spots; caudal peduncle slender, its depth 7.1-7.8% SL (Ref. 81251). Anterior edge of pectoral spine with antrorse serrations; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 52369, 81251).

Description: body compressed; predorsal profile gently convex, postdorsal body sloping gently ventrally; head depressed and broad, acutely rounded when viewed laterally and with rounded snout margin when viewed from above; eye ovoid, horizontal axis longest; mouth inferior and crescent-shaped; lips plicate; maxillary barbels long and slender, extending to just beyond base of last pectoral-fin ray; inner mandibular-barbel origin close to midline, extending to base of pectoral spine and with 2 short, thin branches on anterior half and 3-5 long, thin branches on posterior half; outer mandibular barbel originates posterolateral of inner mandibular barbel, extending to middle of pectoral-fin base and with 3-5 long, thin branches; gill openings narrow, extending from immediately ventral to posttemporal to immediately ventral to base of pectoral spine; dorsal fin located at anterior third of body, with convex margin; dorsal-fin spine long, stout and straight, smooth on both anterior and posterior margins; adipose fin long, extending for most of postdorsal distance; margin slightly convex for entire length and posterior end deeply incised; caudal fin rounded, with i,6,6,i principal rays; anal-fin base located ventral to posterior half of adipose fin, with iv,7-8 rays and convex margin; pelvic-fin origin at vertical ventral to posterior end of dorsal-fin base, with slightly convex margin; pectoral-fin spine slightly curved and stout; anterior spine margin with 12-35 small serrations along entire length of spine, serrations antrorse on distal two-thirds and anteriorly directed on proximal third; posterior spine margin with 9-13 strong serrations along entire length; lateral line complete and midlateral (Ref. 52369). Coloration: dorsal and lateral surfaces of head and body brownish gray, fading to dirty cream on ventral third of body, belly, and ventral surface of head in preserved specimens; snout with a series of cream spots delineating anterior and posterior nares; cheek region with 1-2 cream spots immediately ventral to orbit; cream band encircling nape at supraoccipital; dorsal third of body with series of 4 cream vertical bar-shaped marks extending beyond lateral midline of body: 1st at middle of dorsal-fin base, 2nd at adipose-fin origin, 3rd at middle of adipose-fin base and last on caudal peduncle immediately posterior to adipose fin; ventral third of flanks with a longitudinal series of 6-8 cream spots or vertical bar-shaped marks; pectoral and pelvic fin rays with brownish gray spots arranged in 2-3 bands; dorsal-, anal- and caudal-fin rays brownish gray, with hyaline interradial membranes; coloration of juveniles similar, except for being more brown than gray dorsally, a cream belly with brown spotting on posterior half, and dorsal-, anal- and caudal-fin rays with brown spots arranged in 1-2 bands (Ref. 52369).