Andeancistrus eschwartzae is distinguished from its only congener, A. platycephalus, by possessing black to dark gray base color of head and body (vs. light gray), irregularly shaped round to vermiculate yellow-gold spots smaller than half naris diameter evenly distributed across head, lateral and dorsal surfaces of body and fin rays (vs. white to blue uniformly round spots), and by the absence of enlarged clusters of odontodes (keels) at posteromedial apex of most lateral body plates (vs. presence of odontode clusters) (Ref. 104644).