Diagnosis: Two pairs of barbels, 30-39 scales in the lateral line and 14-20 scales around the least circumference of the caudal peduncle; dorsal fin usually shorter than anal fin and more than 15% of its last unbranched ray flexible, dorsal profile of the head convex (Ref. 94477).

Description: The body is of moderate height and sometimes has a small nuchal hump in larger specimens; the head is round with a convex dorsal profile and convex or straight ventral profile; the head length is shorter than the body depth, the mouth is inferior with two pairs of barbels; the lower lip is crescent shaped and sometimes weakly keratinised; the eyes are in the anterior half of the head (Ref. 94477). The dorsal fin is short and weakly ossified and more than 15% of the length of its last unbranched ray is flexible; its last unbranched ray is about as long as the head; it usually has 4 unbranched and 7-10 branched rays; the anal fin usually has 3 unbranched and 5-6 branched rays; its length is rather variable in adult specimens; it reaches the base of the caudal fin in some specimens (Ref. 94477). It has 30-39 scales in the lateral line, usually 5.5 scales above the lateral line, usually 4.5-5.5 scales below the lateral line, and 14-20 scales around the least circumference of the caudal peduncle (Ref. 94477). The pharyngeal teeth count is 2.3.4-4.3.2; pharyngeal teeth are hooked at their tips (Ref. 94477).

Colouration: Live specimens are silvery and usually have a dark longitudinal band above the lateral line; fins are hyaline to slightly orange (Ref. 94477). Ethanol-preserved specimens are yellow-brown, the back is usually distinctly darker than the belly and flanks (Ref. 94477).