Diagnosis: adipose fin moderate size, origin behind pelvics; colour uniform dark brown, caudal fin black with narrow yellow band across base and distal edge; eyes widely spaced (interorbital width 2.6-4.0 times orbit diameter); origin of dorsal fin one head length behind head; dorsal fin base before origin of pelvic fins; dorsal fin leading ray extends full length of leading edge of fin; caudal fin with 6+7 principal rays; caudal peduncle 0.9-1.4 times longer than deep; snout relatively short, less than half length of head, equal to or shorter than post-orbit length; eyes placed equidistant from hind margin of head and tip of snout (mid-way along head) or nearer to tip of snout (Ref. 81646).

Description: body depressed anteriorly, caudal peduncle compressed; head length 3.6-4.2 times in SL; head depressed, obtuse anterior edge, skin smooth and fleshy; branchiostegal membrane deeply cleft in ventral mid-line; mouth subterminal, broad; lips fleshy; teeth caniniform in pad on premaxillae and narrow band on mandible; barbels filamentous, maxillary longest, extending to above pectoral base; snout relatively short, less than half length of head; nostrils on anterior half of snout, separated; eyes small, widely spaced (interorbital width 2.6-4 times orbit diameter), confluent with head (no free orbital margins); caudal peduncle short, 6.4-8.4 times in SL, relatively deep, 0.9-1.4 times longer than deep; fins broad and well-developed; origin of dorsal one head length behind head; dorsal fin base to above pelvic base; dorsal fin rectangular with straight hind edge, leading ray shorter than leading edge of fin; pectoral fins broad and rounded, not reaching pelvic fins, leading ray broadly pectinate and padded; pelvics not reaching base of anal, leading ray pectinate and padded; anal fin short and slender, extending to or close to base of caudal; caudal fin large and rectangular, trailing edge emarginate, base with semi-oval fleshy pad; adipose fin low and elongate, from behind pelvics to procurrent ridge of caudal fin; anus and genital pore close behind pelvic fin base (Ref. 81646).

Coloration: uniformly dark brown dorsally and laterally; fin rays dark brown, membranes clear; ventral surface from head to anal fin light brown; caudal fin with large medial black spot with cream-yellow surrounds along base and distal edge (Ref. 81646).