This species is distinguished from G. oelemariensis subgenus Oelemaria) by possessing 2 supraneural bones and a midlateral bar and a midlateral spot (vs. absence of a midlateral bar in G. oelemariensis). G. stergiosi is distinguished from all other species in the subgenus Guianacara by possessing of a round midlateral spot placed almost entirely below the upper lateral line, and representing the darkest area in the midlateral bar (the upper lateral line is in contact with the upper fifth of the round midlateral spot; midlateral bar progressively fades, and the midlateral spot becomes darker in all but small juvenile specimens) (Ref. 57436).