Distinguished from all congeners, except Hypostomus carinatus (Steindachner, 1881), H. hoplonites Rapp Py-Daniel, 1988 and H. watwata Hancock, 1828, by having five to eight (mode seven) predorsal plates limiting the posterior border of the supraoccipital bone (vs. one to three plates). Can be diagnosed from Hypostomus carinatus, H. hoplonites, and H. watwata by having pale spots against darker ground color on body and fins (vs. dark spots against lighter ground color) (Ref. 93220).

Description: median plate series 26-29; predorsal plates 2-4; dorsal plates below dorsal-fin base 9-10; plates between dorsal and adipose fin 6-8; plates between adipose and caudal fin 4-5; plates between end of anal-fin base and caudal fin 11-14; premaxillary teeth 10-21; dentary teeth 11-20;