Diagnosis: fronto-parietal fontanel absent in adults, sometimes pore-like in juveniles; snout short, more than 3x head lenght; dorsal fin origin just behind pelvic fin insertion; sexual dimorphism affecting anal fin shape; head length/snout length 3.1-4.0; 24-30 lateral line scales; 4.5 scales between lateral line and dorsal fin; 10.5-12 predorsal scales; 12-16 anal fin branched rays; 16-25 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch; 8 teeth in outer premaxillary row; adults medium-sized; humeral spot always present; broad black band on flanks; most apparent part of this band reaches or extends beyond vertical through posterior base of dorsal fin (Ref. 80290).

Description: fronto-parietal fontanel present in very small individuals, disappearing with growth, when specimens reach 70-80 mm SL; gill rakers short but numerous; 8 outer premaxillary teeth aligned in a single row; no adipose eyelid (Ref. 80290). Anal-fins in adult males sexually dimorphic, being rounded instead of concave as in females (Ref. 28013).

Coloration: back brown, flanks silvery and belly white; body with black humeral spot; spot not present in Niari River; dark longitudinal band extending onto median rays of caudal fin to margin of caudal fork, wider and somewhat indistinct anteriorly, thinner and well pronounced posteriorly (Ref. 80290).