Can be distinguished from all other species in the genus by lacking scaly sheath along the dorsal fin base, and from all except Geophagus taeniopareius by retaining a prominent dark stripe from the eye to the corner of the preopercle as adult. Differs from G. Taeniopareius by (1) distinct light spots on the middle and upper part of the caudal fin, (2) lack of horizontal stripes along the sides, (3) wider lips, (4) lack of microbranchiospines and (5) lower meristics: modally D. XV1.11 instead of XVII. 11 , E1 row scales 30 instead of 32, and vertebrae 14+17 instead of 14+18 (Ref. 57764).