Diagnosis: Mouth (almost) terminal; barbels absent; lateral line incomplete with 2-6 perforated scales; 18-25 scales in lateral line; 8-10 circumpeduncular scales; 2.0 scales between lateral line and pelvic fin insertion; gill rakers present along lower limb of first gill arch; dorsal fin with straight posterior margin (Ref. 81639). Last simple ray of dorsal fin soft and flexible; 3 simple rays in dorsal fin (Ref. 27690, 81639). 13-15 rays in pectoral fin (Ref. 81639). 1 infraorbital bone without sensory canal behind the lacrimal (Ref. 27690).

Description: Small-sized species (Ref. 81639). No barbels (Ref. 122753). Dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 7-8 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5 branched rays; pectoral fin with 13-15 rays; pelvic fin with 8-9 rays; dorsal fin with straight border, last simple ray not ossified, shorter than head (Ref. 81639). Scales with radial striae; lateral line incomplete, with 2-6 perforated scales; 18-25 scales in lateral line; 3.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 3.5 scales between lateral line and mid-belly (Ref. 81639).

Colouration: Ground colour yellow; scales with dark brown border; large round spot behind opercle, another at caudal fin base with 3-11 vertical bars between them; small black spot at dorsal fin origin (Ref. 81639). More information on intraspecific variation in colouration in Ref. 27690.