Satanoperca is a small genus of cichlids from South America, where they are known from the Orinoco, Essequibo, Nickerie, Amazon and Paraná–Paraguay river basins.

[1][2] They are mainly found in areas with slow-moving waters,[3] but some species have also been recorded from rapids.

[3] They often feed in small groups and one individual may act as a watchman, which will charge an approaching piranha with its mouth open and fins erected.

[3] Satanoperca are up to 25.5 cm (10 in) in standard length, but the smallest species reach less than 2⁄3 that size.

The remaining species are part of the S. jurupari group, which may have a small tail-spot and may have a poorly defined pattern of dark bands or blotches on the body, but always lack distinct dark spots on the body.