Distinguished from other epigean species Paracobitis in the Middle East by a combination of non-unique characters: body completely scaled (vs. scales absent or restricted to posterior flank behind origin of dorsal fin in all other congeners in the Middle East except P. longicauda), midlateral row of blotches on flank posterior to base of dorsal fin irregularly set and shaped large dark-brown (vs. irregularly set, small dark-brown blotches or short bars not forming a midlateral row in P. longicauda), caudal fin slightly emarginate or truncate (vs. deeply emarginate or slightly forked in P. vignai) and posterior nare opening is slit-shaped (vs. ovoid or roundish in all congeners except P. rhadinaea and P. vignai).