Distinguished from all other congeners except Loricaria holmbergi, Loricaria lundbergi, Loricaria parnahybae, and Loricaria pumila by having abdominal plates confined to the pre-anal shield and posterior median abdominal area, usually loosely joined or separated by naked areas, pectoral girdle mostly naked, with isolated plates near base of pectoral fins and posterior to gill opening (vs. abdominal plates well developed and tightly arranged across the entire median abdominal area, including the pectoral girdle). Differs from these other four species by meristic counts and several morphometric proportions, particularly a broader head, 19.4-21.3% SL (vs. 14.1-19.1% SL) (Ref. 90156).