Psammothidium alpinum is similar to P. bioretii in size and similarly coarse areolae. It differs from P. bioretii by having a more elongate, linear-elliptical valve shape with nearly parallel sides, and a straight central sternum (versus diagonal in P. bioretii). While P. bioretii has terminal raphe fissures curved to opposite sides, P. alpinum lacks terminal fissures, and distal external raphe ends are drop-shaped and do not expand beyond the last stria. Psammothidium alpinum is similar to P. chlidanos in valve shape, but it can be easily distinguished by its coarser striae and areolae visible in LM.