The body is somewhat elongated, and the head is flattened. The mouth is located underneath the head. There are four pairs of barbels, with maxillary barbels broad at the base and extending backward to the base of the pectoral fins. The dorsal spine is smooth and bony. The pectoral spine is strong and serrated internally. The caudal fin is either lunate (moon-shaped) or semicircular. The skin is tuberculated. The body coloration is dark greyish-yellow on the upper part and dull whitish below. There are two broad black bands: one below the rayed dorsal fin and another below the adipose fin. The fins are distinctly marked with black transverse bands.