This species can be diagnosed from other species of Garra from the Western Ghats by the following combination of characters: intermediate development of the mental disc and central pad; isthmus free from mental disc; long maxillary barbell; naked breast; absence of a proboscis; well developed scales on belly; well developed pre-pelvic scales; 2.5 anal scale rows; 15-17 pre-anal scale rows; 11 pre-dorsal scale rows; 9+8 caudal-fin rays; 13 branched pectoral-fin rays; 31-33 lateral-line scale rows; 15-16 circumpeduncular scale rows; 20-22 circumferential scales. This species differs from congeners from north and north-eastern part of India by the following combination of characters: intermediate development of mental disc and central pad; isthmus free from mental disc; long maxillary barbel; belly scaled; breast naked; absence of median proboscis; absence of proboscis on snout; suctorial disc rounded; well developed post-pelvic region; dorsal-fin rays ii-iii, 8 ; 13 branched pectoral-fin rays; 9+8 caudal-fin rays; 11 pre-dorsal scale rows ; 2.5 anal scale rows; 15-17 pre-anal scale rows; absence of W-shaped band on caudal-fin; 31-33 lateral line scales and 15-16 circumpeduncular scale rows (Ref. 95191).