Diagnosis: mandibular barbels with few, divided ramifications, branches short and thickened, not tuberculate; maxillary barbel bordered with distinct, broad basal membrane, at least as broad as barbel; 22-27 movable mandibular teeth; dorsal spine with few serrations distally on anterior edge, but with several serrations along posterior edge and prolonged by a short filament; base of adipose fin 1.4-3.6 times distance between dorsal fin and base of adipose fin; body almost completely spotted, including belly and fins; interorbital distance at most 86.6% of snout length; postocular length at least 60% of snout length; entire margin of opercle smooth; caudal fin without single dark patch at base of each fin lobe (Ref. 81251).

Description: lips well-developed and papillate; humeral process pointed, upper side more or less spiny and granular and keeled ventrally; adipose fin long, 2.3 to 3.6 times longer than its distance from dorsal fin; pectoral spine prolonged by a short filament, strongly serrated with twice as many serrations along anterior edge as posterior edge; pelvic fins not reaching anal fin; caudal fin deeply forked, with upper lobe slightly longer; caudal peduncle as long as deep (Ref. 81251).

Coloration: body almost completely spotted, including belly and fins; spots rounded and more or less regularly set, smaller on head and fins; spots larger and less regularly set (sometimes conjoined) in juveniles (Ref. 81251).