The fish has an elongated body with a flattened ventral side and a depressed head. It possesses a small mouth that is inferior or sub-terminal, and small eyes. The body is smooth, not rough, and has four pairs of barbels. The dorsal spine is strong, and the caudal fin is forked with the upper lobe being longer than the lower lobe. The coloration is brownish to yellowish-brown with irregular bands present on the body, caudal, anal, and pelvic fins. Fin formula: D I 5; A iv-v 5- 7; P I 4-5; V i 5