Body stout, cylindrical in cross section, slightly compressed; head broad and flattened. Well-developed adipose eyelid covering most of pupil. Upper lip thin and without papillae, armed with 1-6 rows of fine teeth; hind end of upper jaw reaching a vertical line from anterior eye margin; maxillary pad not visible below corner of mouth when closed; origin of first dorsal fin nearer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base; anterior part and bases of second dorsal and anal fins with a moderately dense coverage of scales; pectoral axillary process; 14-15 scale rows between origins or dorsal and pelvic fins.