Diagnosis: dorsal profile strongly depressed (Ref. 81282). Mouth superior, lips well-developed; last single dorsal ray feeble, not ossified and 67% of HL; 10 branched rays in dorsal fin (Ref. 81282, 81639). Scale formula: 5.5/33/4.5;2.5;12 (Ref. 81282) or 5.5-6.5/32-40/4.5/2.5/12-14 (Ref. 81639).

Description: snout rounded; mouth large, lower jaw projecting beyond the upper (Ref. 81282). Lower lip interrupted medially; two pairs of short barbels (Ref. 81282, 81639). Anterior pair 0.75-2.9, posterior pair 1.0-1.7x eye diameter; scales longitudinally striated; D:III-IV,10; A:III,5-6; P:15; V:7; lateral line complete; dorsal fin concave (Ref. 81639). Last simple ray of dorsal fin feeble, not stronger than those following and measuring 0.67x HL (Ref. 81282, 81639). D:III, 10; pectoral fins not reaching pelvics (Ref. 81282).

Coloration: ground color silvery, brownish on back; dorsal and lateral scales brown at base; dorsal and anal fins edged with blackish, other fins whitish (Ref. 81282, 81639). Dorsal fin with dark band across middle part (Ref. 81639). In life, adults are overall bright golden color with dark scale pockets (Ref. 81282).