Possesses the following autapomorphies: lower jaw slightly pronounced; epiphyseal branches of supraorbital latero-sensory canals not fused to each other; preoperculomandibular and postotic latero-sensory canals separated from each other; ventral caudal plate much smaller than dorsal plate, supporting only three rays; and ventral caudal-fin lobe with only three branched rays. Shares with Nemuroglanis pauciradiatus the following eight apomorphies: five or six pairs of pleural ribs; dorsal caudal plate supports only six principal caudal-fin rays; ventral caudal plate much smaller than dorsal caudal plate, supporting only three or four rays; dorsal caudal-fin lobe with five or fewer branched rays; dorsal caudal-fin lobe very long, usually greater than 40% SL; ventral caudal-fin lobe usually with nine to 13 rays; ventral caudal-fin lobe with only three or four branched rays; and caudal fin lanceolate. Differ further from its congeners by its anal-fin base length 18.4-26.4% SL; caudal peduncle length 11.3-14.5% SL; maxillary barbel length 39.8-58.6% SL; and vertebrae 41-42 (Ref. 55662).