sˌʌm ɪɹˈɛθɪstˌɪdz pəzˈɛs ɐ θoːɹˈæsɪk ɐdhˈiːsɪv ˌæpɚɹˈæɾəs fˈɔːɹmd baɪ lˈɔndʒɪtˌuːdɪnəl skˈɪn fˈoʊldz dˈɛnsli kˈʌvɚd wɪð ʌŋkjˈʊli ðæt ɐpˈɪɹz təbi ɐn ˌædæptˈeɪʃən tə lˈaɪf ɪn fˈæst flˈoʊɪŋ wˈɔːɾɚz; ðɪs klˈoʊsli ɹᵻzˈɛmbəlz ɐ sˈɪmɪlɚ stɹˈʌktʃɚɹ ɪnðə sˈɪsoːɹˌɪd ɡlˈɪptəθˌoːɹæks.
Some erethistids possess a thoracic adhesive apparatus formed by longitudinal skin folds densely covered with unculi that appears to be an adaptation to life in fast flowing waters; this closely resembles a similar structure in the sisorid Glyptothorax.