This species has a white or pale stripe running along the lateral line. The stripe is bordered above and below by dark patterning. Some specimens have a dark spot at the dorsal fin base; some a small dark triangular spot at the middle of the body near the base of the caudal fin (midpeduncular spot); some with a humeral semi-ocellus. Can be visually distinguished from other species by combination of a very long adipose fin which originates more or less directly after the dorsal fin, very long maxillary barbels which extend at least to the posterior point of the body, the white lateral streak, and the caudal fin lobes curling inwards. (Grant 2009)