The type series was collected from a small clear-water stream with a pH of 6.0, forming a series of riffles and deeper pools, with a maximum width of 5 metres and depth ranging from 10 cm to 1 metre. The substrate was composed of sand gravel and rocks, with some leaf litter and overhanging marginal vegetation.

Tan (2009) redescribed H. stephensoni and it possesses the following unique character set: sub-inferior mouth with thin barbels; five principle, 12-13 secondary pectoral fin rays (usually 12); scaleless belly; pattern of keeled scales on anterior, dorsal portion of body consisting of a single central keel in the posterior third of each scale; 43-50 lateral line…