This species is distinguished from S. mitsukurii by the following characters: colour of body brown dorsally; caudal fin with ventral and dorsal tips markedly tapered and broadly white; dermal denticles uniscuspidate and lanceolate; larger number of vertebrae, precaudal 91-94, total 120-123 (vs. body dark grey to black; caudal fin with ventral and dorsal tips rounded and not white in colour; denticles tricuspidate and rhomboid; precaudal 86-90 and total 116-117 S. mitsukurii) (Ref. 122378).