Back copper -brown and upper flank fading toa pinkish belly. Fins pink and lateral line with a brightorange streak along it. Preopercle and base of the pectoralfins with orange-golden spots. A dark blotch at thebase of caudal fin. Peritoneum brown to black. Obliqueand long mouth reaches back to anterior eye margin insmall fish and to rear of nostril in larger fish. The scalelessgroove before the dorsal fin weakly expressed.Scales present on belly of large fish. Scales with numerousposterior radii and fine circuli and an anterior indentedmargin. Pelvic axillary scale present. Head more massivein relation to body. Barbel quite stubby at the basebut tapers rapidly to the tip. Anteriormost Pharyngealtooth slightly hooked. Tubercles on anal fin rays andsnout in males. Dorsal fin spine strong and serrated withlarge teeth in small fish. A benthopelagic fish. Maximumtotal length 190 mm. Spawning in summer at 2-3 yearsand at least 41 mm total length. Food include plant, insectlarvae, crustaceans, diatoms and detritus.