Distinguished from other members of the Crenicichla lacustris group along the southeastern Brazilian coast by having a continuous dark band along middle of side from which five paler dark bars extend to dorsal fin base, and another one or two bars to dorsal margin of caudal peduncle. Light areas present between those bars. Differs from Crenicichla lacustris and Crenicichla tingui, with similar color pattern, by the absence of dark spots on side of head and presence of a conspicuous suborbital marking; from Crenicichla haroldoi, Crenicichla jaguarensis and Crenicichla jupiaensis by having E1 row scales counts 60-68; and from Crenicichla iguassuensis by having a continuous dark band along middle of side. Differs from Crenicichla niederleinii by the absence of narrow vertical bars crossing dark lateral band (Ref. 57632).