Can be diagnosed from other Balitorid species by a unique enlarged lip lamina at angle of mouth, connecting the upper lip and maxillary. Additional characters useful to distinguish this species, but not unique to it include the following: large gill opening, with the ventral extremity reaching lower extremity of pectoral-fin base; upper lip and rostral fold separated by a groove, rostral fold with four notches to accommodate rostral barbels; two pairs of rostral barbels and one pair of maxillary barbels; a small fleshy lobe present posterior to each maxillary barbel; pectoral fin with one simple and 17-18 branched rays; pelvic fin with one simple and 8-9 branched rays; side of body lacking vertical blotches in adult; 71-75 lateral line scales (Ref. 93072).