Microglanis xylographicus is easily distinguished from its congeners by two characters related to color pattern: (1) trunk brown with horizontal light stripes that in conjunction impart a tree-bark pattern, and (2) absence of any light marks (blotch or transversal band) crossing the occipital region. The new species can be further distinguished from its congeners, except Microglanis robustus, by the neuromasts surrounded by melanophores, forming three series of aligned small black points laterally on the trunk, four series in the head, one series on the lateral of nape, and one series posterior to the nape. It is distinguished from M. robustus by having a relatively long snout 11.4-12.9% SL (vs. 9.1-10.7% SL), and five pleural ribs (vs. 6 or 7) (Ref. 88956).