tˈɜːɹɪɡˌɑːplɪtʃθiz kæn biː dˌɪfɚɹˈɛnʃɪˌeɪɾᵻd fɹʌm mˈoʊst ˈʌðɚ lˈoːɹɪkˌæɹɪˌɪdz dˈuː tə ðɛɹ lˈɑːɹdʒ dˈoːɹsəl fˈɪnz wɪð nˈaɪn ɔːɹ mˈoːɹ jˈuːʒuːəli tˈɛn dˈoːɹsəl fˈɪn ɹˈeɪz, wˌɪtʃ ɡˈɪvz ðˌɛm ðɛɹ kˈɑːmən nˈeɪm "sˈeɪlfɪn kˈætfɪʃ".
Pterygoplichthys can be differentiated from most other loricariids due to their large dorsal fins with 9 or more (usually 10) dorsal fin rays, which gives them their common name "sailfin catfish".