There are 20–25 total gill rakers on the 1st gill arch. 12–14 rays in the pectoral fin and 28–31 lateral line scales. The body and head have a white or beige ground color, slightly darker above the lateral line that adorned with irregular red, brown, or black spots and/or blotches. A mid-lateral body stripe in red, brown, or black extends from the tip of the snout through the eye to the caudal base. The 1st dorsal fin has a large blotch on or around its tip and the iris is red. The barbels are yellow, pale brown or orange in fresh fish.