Diagnosis: Mouth subinferior; two long and unequal pairs of barbels (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639), anterior pair not extending beyond centre of eye; posterior pair reaching to, or extending beyond, posterior half of eye/extending beyond hind margin of eye (Ref. 2940, 81282). Lateral line complete and deeply depressed below dorsal fin; 21-25 scales in lateral line; 3.5-4.5 scales between lateral line and origin of dorsal fin; 4.5 scales between lateral line and middle of belly; 2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic fin insertion; 12 circumpeduncular scales (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639). Dorsal fin 0.8-0.9 times head length (Ref. 81639). Eight branched dorsal fin rays; last simple dorsal-fin ray smooth on hind margin; 2 large black spots on sides, one on anterior part of body and one on caudal peduncle (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).

Description: Medium-sized species with rounded dorsal profile (Ref. 81282, 81639). Dorsal fin with 3 unbranched and 8 branched rays; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5 branched rays (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639). Scales radially striated; dorsal fin with concave border, last simple ray flexible, not serrated, measuring 0.80-0.86 times head length (Ref. 81639).

Colouration: Back olivaceous green, sides golden-yellow, belly whitish; lateral-line scales with small, black spot at base, particularly well visible on anterior part of body; large, elongate black blotch on middle of caudal peduncle extending forward as black band running above lateral line and becoming slightly broader before dorsal-fin level, forming a second, large, elongate blotch behind gill cover; size and shape of spots and the longitudinal band are highly variable, anterior blotch often being independent and located above longitudinal band; fins colourless in life, but red or reddish at base, but in some individuals they are entirely vermillion (Ref. 2940, 81282, 81639).