It is found usually in quiet, flowing waters with a sandy substrate. It is characterised by truncate/rounded caudal-fin; no scales on top of head; dark, squarish spots on the flanks not forming a solid stripe; 3-5 broad dark bars on the caudal-fin; dorsal-fin origin anterior to pelvic-fin origin; barbels usually relatively small; lamina circularis in males composed of fused 7th and 8th pectoral-fin rays forming a small, dorsally-projecting flange.