This species is distinguished by the following characters: D 5; A 4-5; pectoral-fin rays 25-27; head width in males 2.6-4.7 in SL; anus in males with urogenital papilla present but not pronounced; anal-fin length (distance between anus and anal-fin origin) 1.2-1.5; in males, snout long, broad, anteriorly truncate, versus narrower and rather pointed in female; preorbital length 1.8-3.8 in head length; maxillary barbel absent in both sexes; disc with 10-12 rows of papillae in region A, 5 rows of papillae in region B, and 5-7 rows of papillae in region C; colour of head and body of male light brown, snout and cheeks green with white spots, top of head with red spots, sides of body with five dark brown bars bearing white spots (Ref. 119349).