This species is apparently best distinbguished from similar large barracudas by elongated fin rays forming a filament at the lower rear portion of the rear dorsal fin. It is often confused with S. qenie, which has similar markings, but is said to differ based on possessing a scalloped tail shape (with noticable notch in the centre of the rear tail margin). 

• Max Size: 90 cm
• Sea Temperature Range: 15.9-31.8°C

• IUCN Threat Status: Not Evaluated
• Occurrence: Widespread (50% of sites)
  Occurrence describes how often the species is found on surveys within its distribution. It is calculated as the % of reef sites surveyed by RLS divers across all the ecoregions in which the species has been observed
• Abundance: Few (2 per transect)
  Abundance is calculated as the average number of individuals recorded per RLS transect, where present.