Can be differentiated from both epigean and cave congeners by the combination of the following features: absence of posterior fontanel (except for Ituglanis epikarsticus and Ituglanis macunaima; usually i7 pectoral-fin rays (except for Ituglanis bambui, Ituglanis passensis and Ituglanis epikarsticus; 6 pleural ribs (except for Ituglanis bambui, Ituglanis parahybae and Ituglanis ramiroi; total vertebrae 37-38 behind Weberian apparatus (except for Ituglanis bambui. Ituglanis laticeps and Ituglanis macunaima; predorsal length 65.1-70.8% in SL (except for Ituglanis bambui); caudal peduncle length 8.4-11.9% in SL; dorsal-fin base length 7.7-11.3% in SL; interobital width 29.2-36.5% in HL (except for the cave species); mouth width 43.4-64.0% in HL (except for Ituglanis bambui; pigmentation intermediary between epigean and cave Ituglanis species, composed by irregular light brown spots along the body; variable size of eyes and intermediate between those of epigean and formerly described cave-restricted congeners, with diameter in adults ranging from 0.5-1.0 mm (7.8-10.0% in HL) (except for Ituglanis cahyensis. Other diagnostic characters include presence of discrete medial-posterior projection on the maxillae; fronto-lacrimal one half-length of the maxillae and pointed backwards; posterior process of palatine half its length, with a tenuous medial concavity; 14 dorsal and 12 ventral procurrent rays (Ref. 75008).

Description: Dorsal fin ii,7; Anal fin i5; Pectoral fin i7; Pelvic fin i4 (Ref. 75008).