Diagnosis: body moderately slender, deep (17.6-19.9% SL); anterior edge of pectoral spine with anteriorly directed serrations along proximal half; eye diameter 10.6-12.2% SL; snout length 47.9-48.0% SL; supracleithral process not reaching to vertical through posterior-most tip of nuchal shield; adipose fin base short, 29.4-33.8% SL; body without numerous dark brown elongate spots; caudal peduncle slender, its depth 9.2-9.8% SL; both sexes with short (< 0.1 mm) tubercles on dorsal and lateral surfaces of head (Ref. 81251). Caudal fin rounded; dorsal spine curved (Ref. 52369, 81251).

Description: body compressed; predorsal profile gently convex; postdorsal body sloping gently ventrally; head depressed and broad, acutely rounded when viewed laterally and with rounded snout margin when viewed from above; eye ovoid, horizontal axis longest, and small, 10.6%-12.2% of head length vs. 13.1-25.7% in other Microsynodontis-species; mouth inferior and crescent-shaped; lips plicate; maxillary barbel long and slender, extending to just beyond base of last pectoral-fin ray; inner mandibular-barbel origin close to midline, extending to base of pectoral spine and with 2 short, thin branches on anterior half and 3-4 long, thin branches on posterior half; outer mandibular barbel originates posterolateral of inner mandibular barbel, extending to middle of pectoral-fin base and with 3-4 long, thin branches; gill openings narrow, extending from immediately ventral to posttemporal to immediately ventral to base of pectoral spine; dorsal fin located at anterior third of body, with convex margin; dorsal-fin spine short, stout and slightly curved, smooth on both anterior and posterior margins; adipose fin moderately long; margin slightly convex for entire length and posterior end deeply incised; caudal fin rounded, with principal rays; anal-fin base located ventral to posterior half of adipose fin, with iv,7-9 rays and convex margin; pelvic-fin origin at vertical ventral to posterior end of dorsal-fin base, with slightly convex margin ; pectoral-fin spine slightly curved and stout; anterior spine margin with 17-20 small serrations along entire length of spine, serrations antrorse on distal 2/3 and anteriorly directed on proximal third; posterior spine margin with 9-10 strong serrations along entire length; lateral line complete and midlateral (Ref. 52369).

Coloration: dorsal and lateral surfaces of head and body medium brown, fading to cream or light grayish brown on ventral third of body, belly, and ventral surface of head, in preserved specimens; snout with a series of cream spots delineating anterior and posterior nares; cheek region with 1-2 cream spots immediately ventral to orbit; cream band encircling nape at supraoccipital; dorsal third of body with series of 4 cream slender, vertical bar-shaped marks extending beyond lateral midline of body: 1st at middle of dorsal-fin base, 2nd at adipose-fin origin, 3rd at middle of adipose-fin base and last on caudal peduncle immediately posterior to adipose fin; ventral third of flanks with a longitudinal series of 5-7 cream spots or vertical bar-shaped marks; dorsal, pectoral, pelvic and anal fins hyaline and with 1-2 rows of elongate spots forming longitudinal brown rows; caudal fin hyaline, with elongate brown spots forming 2-3 irregular columns (Ref. 52369, 81251).