Diagnosis: mouth subinferior; two pairs of barbels, anterior pair 0.87-1.3 and posterior pair 1.06-1.76x eye diameter; lateral line complete; 21-25 scales in lateral line; 4.5 scales between lateral line and origin of dorsal fin; 12 scales around caudal peduncle; dorsal fin with concave border; last simple ray of dorsal fin ossified and serrated; large dark stripe on sides; black spot at base of first rays of dorsal fin (Ref. 81639).

Description: medium-sized species; scales with divergent striae; 4.5 scales between lateral line and mid-belly; 3 scales between lateral line and pelvic fin insertion; D:III,8; A:III,5; P:15; V:8; dorsal fin with concave border, last simple ray measuring 1.05x HL (Ref. 81639).

Coloration: ground color grey dorsally, white ventrally; sickle-shaped black spot at base of each scale; black band on flanks extending from tip of snout to caudal fin; typically black spot at dorsal fin base formed by large scales, rich in melanophores; external part of dorsal fin with feeble black spot which becomes more apparent in alcohol-preserved specimens; dorsal and caudal fin yellow-orange, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins yellowish (Ref. 81639).