This species is distinguished by the following set of characters: D VII + 9; pectoral fins 13-15; gill rakers 6-7 + 16-18 = 23-25. Measurements as % SL: body depth at first dorsal-fin origin 22-25; body depth at anus 19-22; caudal-peduncle depth 8.7-9.8; maximum head depth 19-21; head depth through eye 15-17; head length 29-32; snout length 11-13; orbit length 5.9-7.7; upper jaw length 11-13; barbel length 18-20; caudal-fin length 26-29; anal-fin height 15-18; pelvic-fin length 19-21; pectoral-fin length 19-22; first dorsal-fin height 17-20, dorsal-fin spines proportionally decreasing in height; second dorsal-fin height 15-18; presence of 8-14 total oblique bars on caudal fin, the upper caudal-fin lobe with 4-6 reddish bars, narrower than the pale interspaces between bars while the lower has 4-8 red bars ventrally, connecting dorsally to a broad red stripe, and with 3-4 short dark-grey bars along dorsal margin and a dark fin tip; caudal-fin lobe bars and stripe fade away when dead and only traces are retained when preserved; barbels are white when fresh; colour of body may be variable, often white or rose below lateral line, covered with red pigmentation above the lateral line which may reach down ventrally and to head and sometimes forming red patches or blotches; the belly is white; when preserved, body pale brown and not dorsally darkened (Ref. 123119).