This species can be diagnosed from other species of Leporinus (juveniles and adults), except L. moralesi and L. striatus, by the presence of dark midlateral stripe extending onto the middle caudal-fin rays. It differs from L. moralesi by having dark midlateral stripe extending from the snout to the caudal fin (vs. dark midlateral stripe extending from the vertical through the dorsal fin to the caudal fin), and five dark transverse bars between the head and the dorsal-fin origin in specimens of approximately 60 mm SL or more (vs. four). It can be distinguished from L. striatus by having a single dark longitudinal stripe on the body (vs. four), and dark transverse bars on the dorsal portion of the body (vs. absent) (Ref. 93868).