A superficially similar population in the Mae Nam Kwai Noi (Mae Khlong basin) was identified as S. desmotes by Kottelat (1990), who noted that the specimens “cannot be differentiated from those of the upper Mae Nam Ping except by a generally lighter background coloration and slightly thinner bars which also are more numerous in the postdorsal area (modally 4, vs 3).” However, the population in the Mae Nam Kwai Noi lacks the suborbital flap present in S. desmotes and is distinguished by its color pattern as described below.