Diagnosed from all congeners except Cottus tallapoosae by the combination of the following characters: modally eight infraorbital canal pores; five bones in the suborbital series; reduced palatine teeth; a flexible spine and four rays in the pelvic fin; preoperculomandibular

canals not fused at anterior rami of mandibles, with two pores at tip of chin; pectoral rays simple; preopercular armature well-developed with two or three spines; chin not mottled; and dorsal fins separate. Differs from Cottus tallapoosae on the basis of dermal prickling well-developed, consisting of a postpectoral patch and prickles on the area immediately adjacent to the anterodorsal part of the lateral line (vs. prickles absent or reduced);

a complete lateral line (vs. usually incomplete); and moderate or wide saddles (vs. narrow or

moderate) (Ref. 72414).