Description: No barbels present on the small terminal mouth; eye very large (Ref. 13337, 52193, 122753). Dorsal fin with 2 unbranched and 8-9 branched rays; anal fin with 2 unbranched and 5-6 branched rays; anal fin of the adult male elongated, sickle-shaped and can reach the tail (Ref. 13337, 52193). Scales small, 35-38 in lateral series; no lateral line (Ref. 52193).

Colouration: Translucent brown to rosy red (breeding males) with a thin line along midbody ending in a spot at base of caudal fin; a black triangle on base of dorsal fin, a black spot on base of anal fin (Ref. 52193).