Paraschistura turcmenica can be diagnosed from all congers in Iran, with the exception of P. kessleri, by the complete absence of scales (vs. presence of scales at least on caudal peduncle). It differs from P. kessleri by the possession of irregularly shaped and set bars on the flank, often dissociated into a marmorate pattern or a row of midlateral blotches and a row of saddles on the back (vs. 10-12 distinct, regularly shaped and set dark-brown bars on the flank); from P. bampurensis by the absence of a suborbital flap (vs. presence), a blunt snout (vs. pointed) and a color patter of irregularly set dark-brown bars or series of blotches on the flank (vs. 11-18 regularly set bars); from P. cristata by the absence of a dorsal adipose crest (vs. presence) and an incomplete lateral line (vs. complete); and from P. nielseni by having a very slender body (body depth at dorsal-fin origin 13-15 % SL vs. 15-17). Additional characters useful to distinguish P. turcmenica include the following: black spot at base of first dorsal-fin rays bold; dorsal fin usually with 7 1/2 branched rays; pelvic fin reaching to about 1-2 eye diameter in front of anus (Ref. 103390).