Can be distinguished from other species of Glyptothorax in the Indian subcontinent except from G. ater, G. brevipinnis, G. churamanii, G. jayarami, G. pantherinus, G. pectinopterus and G. striatus in having (vs. lacking) a prominently plicate ventral surface of the pectoral-fin spine and the first pelvic-fin ray. Can be separated from G. ater, G. brevipinnis, G. churamanii, G. jayarami, G. nelsoni, G. pantherinus, G. pectinopterus, G. saisii and G. striatus in having a more slender body (depth at anus 11.2-11.4% SL vs. 11.7-16.4) and the following combination of characters: eye diameter 6.6-7.4% HL interorbital distance 28.3-28.7% HL, head length 23.7-24.3% SL, wedge-shaped central depression in thoracic adhesive apparatus devoid of skin ridges, unculiferous ridges of thoracic adhesive apparatus not extending anteriorly onto gular region, pectoral-fin length 21.4-22.8% SL, dorsal-fin spine length 11.6-13.9% SL, dorsal-to-adipose distance 26.6-26.8% SL, pelvic-fin length 16.5-18.3% SL, adipose-fin base length 13.1-14.3% SL, anal-fin base length 13.4-14.0% SL, caudal-peduncle length 20.9% SL, caudal-peduncle depth 7.7% SL (1.4-1.5 times in body depth at anus), absence of distinct pale midlateral stripe on body, and 36 total vertebrae (Ref. 93805).