This fish is often confused with the closely related barber perch (Caesioperca rasor). However, the butterfly perch has a deeper body, and males are more pink with a dark blotch rather than band on the side.
The butterfly perch is often misidentified as the barber perch (Caesioperca rasor), but it can be distinguished by its deeper physique and distinctive coloration, where males display a more pronounced pink hue with a dark spot instead of a band on their flank.