Distinguished from Satanoperca daemon, S. lilith, and S. acuticeps in the absence of well defined dark blotches on the side, and lower meristics (soft dorsal­fin rays 8­10, modally 9, vs 12-14; e1 scales 25-27, modally 26, vs 27-31; ceratobranchial gill-rakers 12-14, modally 14, vs 17-23). It is similar to remaining species of the genus, S. jurupari, S. leucosticta, S. mapiritensis, and S. pappaterra in meristics, proportional measurements, dentition, and general colour pattern, but can be diagnosed from all by fewer scales in the e1 row, 25-26, rarely 27, vs 27-28. Differs also from S. pappaterra in the Guaporé and Paraguay river basins in the absence of prominent black blotches along the base of the dorsal fin, and absence of a

well­defined black band along the middle of the side; and from S. leucosticta (Guyana and Suriname), and S. mapiritensis (Orinoco river drainage) by the absence of white spots on the snout and sides of the head. Its most similar species may be S. jurupari in the central Amazon basin from which it differs in modal dorsal­fin count XV.9, vs XV.10, e1 scale count 26 vs 27, gill-raker count 13-14 (rarely 15) vs 16-17 (rarely 14, 15, 18), gill blade narrower than ceratobranchial (vs wider), and generally longer snout (14.3-19.4% of SL, vs 11.3-15.9%) (Ref. 90072).