This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: 2-3 pale stripes on body, of which 2 extend onto head, a pair of dermal fold fringing base of dendritic organ; nasal and maxillary barbels reach well beyond posterior border of orbit; origin of dorsal procurrent caudal-fin posterior to vertical thorough middle base of pelvic fins, and slightly anterior to vertical through origin of anal fin; 21-26 (usually 23-25) gill rakers; 142-174 (usually 146-174) total rays in confluent median fins; 48-52 (usually 49-51) vertebrae excluding anterior complex vertebra (Ref. 75200).