Small odontodes are also present along the body, but are absent from the preopercle and the dorsal two thirds of the opercle.

[1] The genus can be distinguished from the Hypostominae genera Corymbophanes, Hypostomus and Pterygoplichthys and from all non-Hypostominae loricariids by having a cluster of >25 evertible cheek odontodes (vs. cheek odontodes absent or <10); and from all other members of the Hypostominae except some Ancistrus species, Araichthys loro Zawadzki et al., 2016, Chaetostoma carrioni (Norman, 1935) and Leptoancistrus by lacking an adipose fin, having instead a low ridge of azygous plates.

[1] Yaluwak can be diagnosed from all Ancistrus species and Chaetostoma carrioni by its having a fully plated snout, from Araichthys loro by having a taller caudal peduncle and longer tooth rows and from Leptoancistrus by lacking cheek odontodes that extend past the cleithrum and having dorsal fin ii,7 (vs.

[1] This species is considered a medium-sized loricariid, with the largest specimen examined measuring 122.9 mm Standard Length.

[1] The species is only known from the uppermost rapids of Sukwabi Creek, an eastern arm of the Ireng River (Brazil: Rio Maú), just below Wotowanda Falls.