It is rather large, strange looking and often confused with the Barbel fish.
No other catfish in these waters have such a large second dorsal fin, nor such long barbells which reach almost to the origin of the pelvic fin, with the extra long barbels being used to hunt in the murky water.
They have ineffective eyesight and they rely on vibrations and smell when looking for food.
It is a light to dark olive brown on its dorsal surface, getting lighter over the mid-body to a light brown, off-white belly. The fins are usually a light brown.