Diagnosis. Distinguished from its congerners by the following: dorsal-fin rays XI, 16-18 (usually XI, 17); scales above lateral line 9-12 (usually 10 or 11), below 15-19 (usually 16 or 17); scales on maxilla absent; 10 pores on and behind chin, including one very smalei pore near each side of symphysis, two moderate sized pores anteroventrally on each dentary, a single large pore ventrally, midway along each dentary (usually obscured by dense papillae), and a single large pore ventrally at articulation of dentary (two posteriormost pores slit-like concave traces); cluster of short and long dense papillae and barbels on fleshy lower lip, its posterior part naked; shape of dorsal- and anal-fin rays strongly angulated, usually angular, anal more strong than dorsal; body uniformly dark brown, sometimes with two indistinct oblique dark bands, the first descending from nape to behind pectoral fin, the second from base of 7th-10th dorsal-fin spines, curving downward above or through lateral line (Ref. 56360).