Distinctive characters : Body short or moderately elongated, compressed. Abdomen rounded. Head of moderate size compressed. Snout rounded or obtuse. Eyes moderately large, supralateral, in anterior part of head not visible frombelow ventral surface. Four pairs of barbels, one each of maxillary; nasal & two of mandibular, generally longer than the head.

Rayed dorsal fin inserted above last quarter of pectoral fin, with 7 rays & a spine. Anal fin short, with 9-16 rays. Caudal fin forked.