Distinguished from all other species of Sturisoma by its greater interorbital width (7.4-8.0% vs. 4.5-6.2% in other species) and little or no contribution of the frontal to the orbital rim (vs. presence in remaining species). Also differs by the absence of ventral expansion of the sphenotic (vs. a moderate expansion present in S. barbatum, S. guentheri, S. monopelte, S. nigrirostrum and S. rostratum. Can also be distinguished from most congeners by having 18 plates in the midventral plate series with keels not coalesced (vs. 20-22 in the remaining species (Ref. 56068).