Head shield displays striations and rugae. There are four oval patches of villiform teeth at the front of the palate, two on each side with the inner patches being smaller than the outer ones. All spines are accompanied by short filaments. The barbels are flattened and strap-like and the maxillary barbels are often long. In terms of coloration, the body is bluish-brown above and white below. The fins are dusky, with paired fins having a white margin. The peritoneum is either fawn or dark grey.