Pseudolaguvia foveolata is distinguished from its congeners in possessing a shorter thoracic adhesive apparatus (reaching to middle of pectoral-fin base) and a more slender, more elongate body (manifested as a smaller body depth at anus: 11.0% SL vs. 12.8-18.4, and a longer and more slender caudal peduncle: depth of caudal peduncle 4.1 times in its length, ,vs. 1.6-2.6). It is further distinguished from all congeners except P. tuberculatain having a longer adipose-fin base (24.0% SL vs. 12.6-20.6), from P. kapuri and P. ribeiroi in having a smooth (vs. serrated) anterior edge of the dorsal spine, from P. shavwi in having shorter maxillary barbels (not reaching vs. reaching base of pectoral spine) and from P. tuberculata in having the adipose fin not reaching (vs. reaching) the base of the last dorsal-fin ray (Ref. 54939).