This fish has 6-7 dorsal spines and 10 dorsal soft rays, with 1 anal spine and 8-9 anal soft rays. Its body is characterized by a pale grey color with irregular brown blotches on the cheek and lacks a pronounced dark patch on the top of the head. There are four dark brown saddles on the dorsal side, including one on the nape, and a diffuse blackish bar at the base of the caudal fin. A dark wedge-shaped mark is present on the pectoral fin base. The pelvic fins are fully united, and the caudal fin is rounded. The fish has longitudinal scale series ranging from 36 to 44, with strongly ctenoid scales. It has barbels on the snout, tip of the chin, and ventrally below the lower jaw, but none on the posterior mandible. The cheek and opercle are scaleless, and the nape scales are deeply embedded.