Distinguished from other congeners , except Loricaria parnahybae, by having abdominal plate development confined to the pre-anal shield and posterior median abdominal area, pectoral girdle mostly naked, and with isolated clusters of plates near bases of pectoral fins posterior to gill openings often present in adults (vs. abdominal

plates typically well developed and tightly arranged across the entire median abdominal area, including the pectoral girdle. Can be separated from Loricaria parnahybae by having the following characters: a broader head (17.6-18.4% SL vs. 13.7- 15.8% SL), smaller basicaudal plate (9.0-11.9% vs. 12.9- 15.4% HL), body marked with conspicuous dark saddles and fins with solid dark pigment (vs. body faintly marked with dark saddles and fins with small spots). Differs further from Loricaria simillima by having a smaller basicaudal plate (9.0-11.9% vs. 11.7-23.6% HL). One specimen from rio Mawarinuma of the upper rio Negro drainage differs from specimens collected from deep channel habitats of the rio Negro by having larger and more boldly pigment pattern, larger eye and well developed iris operculum (Ref. 79031).