Currently records of this species come only from the eastern flank of Gunung Kinabalu, Sabah, around Poring, at approx. 500–530 m a.s.l.

Adult males measure up to 36 mm and females up to 43 mm in snout–vent length.

Limnonectes gyrinophorus shares several features with L. finchi: Moderate body size. The odontoid processes on the lower jaw are low and inconspicuous in both sexes. The dorsum is granular and features interrupted longitudinal rows of elongate tubercles. The interorbital distance is shorter than the width of the upper eyelid. A distinctly visible, round pineal spot is present, located anterior to the line connecting the anterior edges of the eyes. The toes are not fully webbed, and a characteristic horseshoe-shaped dermal ridge is present in the middle of the dorsum, just posterior to the insertion of the arms.

L. gyrinophorus and L. finchi look very similar at first glance. According to the original description, L. gyrinophorus is distinguished from L. finchi by the combination of certain characters: The dorsal surface is very rough, covered with numerous prominent warts and glandular ridges. The area around the cloaca is surrounded by many small, densely packed tubercles. The skin on the ventral side of the head and chest is thickened, forming a collar-like posterior edge and a distinct transverse chest fold. The loreal region is angular. The vomerine processes bear 3–4 teeth and are spaced apart and separated from the choana by a distance equal to half the length of each process. The hindlimbs are relatively short and the tibiotarsal joint reaches only to the nostril when the leg is adpressed. The first finger is relatively long and nearly equal in length to the third finger. A distinct, moveable dermal flap is present on the postaxial side of Toe V, extending from the proximal end of the metacarpus to the toe disk.

As the other Guardian Frogs, L. finchi and L. gyrinophorus males guard the terrestrial clutch under leaf litter and carry the hatched tadpoles to a nearby puddle.