Astroblepus itae is distinguished from other congeners by the following characters: maxillary wattle reaching close to the brachial opening; pelvic fin goes beyond the anus; pre-dorsal distance does not reach the adipose spine; pectoral fin with a single radius and 10 branching radius; pre-maxillary with three and a half rows of teeth, the outermost having 7-9 conic semi-curved teeth and a bicuspid tooth in the center of the row; inferior and superior lobules of caudal fin are equal; 25 free vertebrae, the fifth cerato-brachial bone with 6 teeth in the anterior region (Ref. 93750).