This species is autapomorphically distinct from its congeners in having a small, medial, lobulate process located on each side of the posterior limit of the medial fold (mf) of the buccopharyngeal complex; differs further with the exception of S. argentea, S. bimaculata, S. binotata, S. conspersa, S. corumbae,

and S. leucisca, in possessing three weakly developed, longitudinally oriented, fleshy folds on the roof of the oral cavity rather than having three well developed, longitudinally oriented, fleshy flaps and/or one or more series of lobulate fleshy processes in that region. The 57-64 scales in the lateral line from the supracleithrum to the hypural joint separates this species from S. argentea, S. bimaculata, S. conspersa, and S. corumbae with 53 or fewer scales along the lateral line to the hypural joint and from S. binotata which has 67 to 70 scales along that series. This species can be further distinguished from S. leucisca in details of the pigmentation pattern of the dorsolateral region (three irregular series of small, dark spots on the dorsolateral surface of the body above the midlateral band vs. with either one or two series of larger spots about one-half size of pupil or very narrow bars of that vertical extent, respectively), and midlateral surface of the body (rounded to horizontally elongate diffuse dark spot larger than exposed parts of scales positioned over lateral line slightly anterior to vertical through origin of dorsal fin vs. spot

absent, respectively), and the profile of the anterior portion of the snout (somewhat rounded vs. more pointed, respectively) (Ref. 80500).