Can be diagnosed from all other species of Leporinus , except L. gomes i, L. granti , and L. nijssen i, by the presence of three prominent dark midlateral blotches, smaller blotches formed by dermal pigment, five of which form an interrupted "X" between head and first midlateral blotch, small dark spots formed by epidermal pigment, terminal mouth with four teeth on premaxilla and four on dentary, and relatively few scales on lateral line (less than 36). Differs further from all congeners, except L. gomesi , by having a conspicuous dark spots on the center of scales on anterolateral portion of the body; from L. gomesi by having 16 (vs. 12) scale rows around the caudal peduncle, and the second midlateral dark blotch rounded and not extended posteriorly to the vertical through the posterior margin of the adipose fin (vs. second midlateral dark blotch elongate, extended posteriorly to the vertical through the posterior margin of the adipose fin) (Ref. 93223).