Available molecular data support the morphological results. Chelidoperca santosi is resolved as a distinct
genetic lineage (Fig 2) from all other Chelidoperca species for which CO1 sequences are available. We could not
attempt to infer a comprehensive phylogeny of all species of Chelidoperca because sequences were not available
for C. hirundinacea, C. lecromi and C. margaritifera. However, the morphological differences discussed above
indicate that these three species are distinctly different from C. santosi and not likely to apply.
Chelidoperca santosi is known only from the Palawan and Visayan regions of the Philippines. It has been
collected by trawl from a depth of 146 m.