Distinctive characters : Body elongate, compressed. Abdomen rounded. Head large, pointed. Snout slightly pointed. Mouth large, cleft oblique. Eyes placed laterally, not visible from below. Lips thin. Lower jaw prominent Barbels one rostral pair or none. Pharyngeal teeth one or two rows. Dorsal fin inserted behind origin of pelvic fin, with nine (seven branched) rays and no spine. Anal fin with seven or eight rays (five or six branched). Caudal fin emarginate or forked. Scales large or moderate. Lateral line concave, complete, with 26-44 scales.

Distribution: Throughout India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Vietnam, South China and Malaysia.