This species is distinguished by the following characters: D VIII + 9; pectoral fins 13-14; gill rakers 4-7 + 15-18 = 20-24; lateral line scales 29-31; body depth at first dorsal fin origin 22-26% SL and at anus 19-22% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 9.6-11% SL, width 2.2-4.1% SL; maximum head depth 19-23% SL; head depth through eye 15-19% SL; head length 29-33%SL; postorbital length 12-13% SL; orbit length 5.5-8.1% SL; upper jaw length 11-14% SL; barbel length 16-22% SL; caudal-peduncle length 20-25% SL; caudal-fin length 24-28% SL; anal-fin height 15-17% SL; pelvic-fin length 18-22% SL; pectoral-fin length 18-22% SL, width 3.6-5.4% SL; first dorsal-fin height 18-22% SL; second dorsal-fin height 16-18% SL; postorbital length 1.2-1.4 times in anal-fin height; all fins possess dark brown or black stripes, bars or blotches; 6-10 oblique bars on caudal fin in adults (6 or less in juveniles > 7 cm SL), 3-5 brown, dark brown or black bars on upper caudal-fin lobe, 3-4 brown, dark brown or black bars on lower lobe; a dark-brown or black mid-lateral body stripe from tip of snout to caudal-fin base; body and head ground colour white or

beige, slightly darker above lateral line, with irregular dark brown or black spots, dots and blotches; barbels are yellow or pale brown; most of body and fin pigmentation retained on preserved fish (Ref. 95469).