Kottelatlimia hipporhynchos is distinguished from congeners by the extreme development of papillae on all mouth parts (lips, barbels, lobes), including very long papillae along the anterior edge of the main digitation of the median lobe of the lower lip (vs. smooth mouth parts, no papillae along edge of main digitation. Further, in males, K. hipporhynchos is distinguished from K. pristes by the posterior projections of the upper hemitrichium of the first branched pectoral-fin ray being broad, contiguous and forming a blade-like structure. In K. pristes, these projections (except the proximal ones) are pointed and directed backwards, spine-like, not contiguous, appearing as a saw-like structure. In K. katik, the projections of the upper hemitrichium of the first branched pectoral-fin ray are narrow and form 6–7 fine serrae (Ref. 79884).