Diagnosis: last simple dorsal-fin ray smooth on hind margin; scale formula 3.5/22-25/3.5; 2.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin base; 9 scales around caudal peduncle; 8 branched dorsal fin rays; two pairs of barbels; anterior barbel not reaching to anterior margin of eye/not extending beyond centre of eye; posterior barbel extending beyond hind margin of eye; lateral line complete and more or less horizontal to weakly depressed below dorsal fin; maximum reported size 39 mm SL; no black spot on dorsal fin; wide, black lateral band on sides from snout to base of caudal peduncle (Ref. 43268, 81282).

Description: moderately robust, short-bodied species; predorsal profile smoothly rounded to origin of 1st spinous dorsal ray; snout short and blunt; mouth small and subterminal; cephalic pits poorly developed and barely visible on cheek and head surface; eyes relatively large; pectoral fins large and broad, and usually overlap origin of large pelvic fins; posterior dorsal-fin margin straight to slightly falcate; anal fin relatively long; caudal fin strongly forked with pointed lobes; body covered with large regularly imbricate cycloid scales; striations on scale are few in number and diverge from central focus of each scale (Ref. 43268). Mouth’s angle situated below anterior margin of eye; D: IV,8; A: III,5; P: I,14; V: I,7 (Ref. 81282).

Coloration: broad, jet black ribbonlike band extends from behind operculum to base of caudal peduncle; dorsal body surface darkly pigmented (Ref. 43268, 81282). Belly pale (Ref. 43269, 81282) and slightly yellowish (Ref. 43268). All fins are slightly pigmented and dusky grey in color (Ref. 43268).