When seen "up close and personal", efasciatus has a much more pronounced, bluish masking on the face and more bluish hues throughout the body....REALLY nice...severus is the true green severum...some think they are the same...they definately are not when you seem them side by side...however, efasciatus is often sold as severus in the stores..true severus are actually a mouth brooder, while efasciatus is the substrate spawner...I'm waiting for some H. efasciatus "rio negro" fry to grow out at my breeders so i can get some for me...the parents look like discus in their coloration...indeed, severums have often been called "poor man's Discus".