Diagnosis: eye 18.0-21.0% HL; body with 2 large clear transverse bands; 26-44 mandibular teeth; dorsal spine fully serrated along entire anterior edge (Ref. 81251).

Description: maxillary barbels without basal membrane, reaching to half of pectoral spine; mandibular barbels ramified, sometimes tuberculate, lateral pair more or less twice as long as medial pair; snout obtuse; lips moderately developed; premaxillary teeth forming a short but wide band; 26 to 44 movable mandibular teeth; humeral process longer than wide and granulate above, striated below, acutely pointed and extending as far back or a little farther back than nuchal plates; dorsal spine striated, strongly serrated along anterior edge but not along posterior edge; adipose fin 3-4 times longer than deep and 2-3 times longer than its distance from first dorsal fin; anal fin pointed; pectoral spines strongly serrated along both edges; pelvic fin reaching, or nearly reaching, anal fin; caudal fin deeply notched; caudal peduncle as long as deep (Ref. 81251).

Coloration: blotched and marbled brownish body with 3 large irregular dark transverse bands: 1st below dorsal, 2nd below adipose and 3rd in front of caudal fin; fins pale brownish or whitish, with black spots (Ref. 81251).