Diagnosis: Notoglanidium maculatum differs from other species in the genus in having: very small eyes, eye diameter 3.3-5.3% of head length vs. 6.0-13.3% in all other species except N. pallidum; a rather large interorbital distance, 35.3-36.8% of head length vs. larger in N. thomasi and less than 34% in all other species except N. macrostoma; a small combined premaxillary tooth plate width, 10.5-13.6% of head length vs. more han 13.6% in all other species except N. pallidum and N. thomasi; and a greater number of soft dorsal-fin rays, 16-22 vs. less than 16 in other species except N. thomasi (Ref. 94168).

Description: Body slender, but not elongate, about 7-8 times as long as deep; head broad and prominent in ventral or dorsal view; head not depressed, with a broad snout (Ref. 57126, 94168). Occipital process scarcely developed and distinctly separated from nuchal plates; humeral spine well visible; eyes very small, round and positioned dorsally (Ref. 57126). Branchiostegal membranes completely fused, supported by 9-10 branchiostegal rays (Ref. 94168). Adipose fin very low, 1.0-1.8% of standard length (Ref. 94168).

Colouration: In life, pale brown with many somewhat darker and irregular spots covering head, body and most fins; on average, spots smaller than in Notogalnidium thomasi (Ref. 94168).