Diagnosis: supracleithral process reaching to vertical through posterior-most tip of nuchal shield; eye large, its diameter 21.0-25.0% HL; adipose fin moderately long, its base 22.0-28.2% SL; body without numerous dark brown elongate spots; caudal peduncle slender, its depth 8.1-9.8% SL; caudal fin rounded; body slender and elongate; snout length 34.7-47.6% SL; both sexes with short (< 0.1 mm) tubercles on dorsal and lateral surfaces of head; dorsal spine curved; anterior edge of pectoral spine with antrorse serrations (Ref. 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 large and ovoid, horizontal axis longest; mouth inferior and crescent-shaped; lips plicate; maxillary barbel 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; supracleithral process thin and longer than in other Microsynodontis species; dorsal fin located at anterior third of body, with convex margin; dorsal-fin spine long, stout and slightly curved, smooth on both anterior and posterior margins; adipose fin moderately long; 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 iii-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 22-28 small serrations along entire length of spine, serrations antrorse on distal two-thirds and anteriorly directed on proximal third; posterior spine margin with 8-13 strong serrations along entire length; lateral line complete and midlateral (Ref. 52369).

Coloration: dorsal and lateral surfaces of head and body dark chocolate brown, fading to light brown on belly in preserved specimens; snout with a series of light yellow spots delineating anterior and posterior nares; cheek region with 1-2 light yellow spots immediately ventral to orbit; light yellow band encircling nape at supraoccipital; dorsal third of body with series of 4 light yellow vertical bar-shaped marks extending to lateral midline of body: 1st at middle of dorsal-fin base, 2nd at adipose-fin origin, 3rd at middle of adipose-fin origin and last on caudal peduncle immediately posterior to adipose fin; ventral third of flanks with a longitudinal series of 4-7 light yellow spots or vertical bar-shaped marks; dorsal fin with dark chocolate brown base and 1-2 rows of elongate spots forming longitudinal dark chocolate brown rows; pectoral, pelvic and anal fins with hyaline bases and similarly marked; caudal fin hyaline, with elongate brown spots forming 2-3 irregular columns (Ref. 52369, 81251).