Diagnosis: 12-16 rakers on lower limb of first arch; 27-30 scales in lateral line; generally with black spots and blotches on head and body (Ref. 81260).

Description: head length 34.9-39.3% SL (Ref. 81260). Dorsal snout profile straight or slightly convex (Ref. 1879, 72505). Posterior margin of maxillary reaching a little beyond nostril (Ref. 1879, 53262, 55074, 72505). Lips relatively small; lower jaw sometimes slightly protruding (Ref. 55074). 3-5 rows of teeth in jaws, outer row teeth bicuspid; lower pharyngeal jaw with bicuspid teeth; ventral keel elongate, longer than dentigerous plate (Ref. 81260). Interorbital space broadly convex (Ref. 42034). 2-3 series of rather large scales on cheek (Ref. 1879, 53262, 55074, 72505). Scales cycloid (Ref. 53262). Operculum with large scales (Ref. 1879, 72505). Gill-rakers short (Ref. 1879, 53262, 72505). 17-21 scales on upper lateral line, 9-15 on lower (Ref. 1879, 53262, 55074, 72505). 11.5-14.5 scales below upper part of lateral line (Ref. 55074). Soft part of dorsal fin pointed (Ref. 1879, 72505). Dorsal fin reaching base (juveniles) to proximal third or rarely first half (adults) of caudal fin; anal fin reaching as far as dorsal fin (Ref. 55074). Pectoral fins pointed, reaching anal fin origin (Ref. 1879, 53262, 72505), often even spiny part of anal fin, but always beyond vent (Ref. 55074). Pelvic fins not reaching vent (Ref. 1879, 55074, 72505). Caudal fin almost scaleless, with pointed tips (Ref. 55074).

Coloration: olive green; belly whitish (Ref. 1879, 53262, 72505, 81260). Some scales on flanks with blackish base (Ref. 1879, 72505, 81260). Iris slate grey (Ref. 42034). Chin often black (Ref. 1879, 53262, 72505, 81260), as well as some blotches on lower part of operculum and preoperculum (Ref. 1879, 72505, 81260). Pelvic and anal fins sometimes black (Ref. 1879, 53262, 55074, 72505, 81260), as well as the dorsal and caudal fin (Ref. 55074). Pectoral fin transparent with blackish superior border, pelvic fin blackish with slightly transparent posterior border (Ref. 55074). Juveniles with yellowish-green dorsum and pale green flanks (Ref. 55074), transparent fins (Ref. 55074), and pale, round spots between rays of dorsal (Ref. 1879, 55074, 72505, 81260), anal (Ref. 55074) and caudal fins (Ref. 1879, 72505, 81260). Tilapia-spot in juveniles well marked, sometimes also 4-6 darker, transversal bars on dorsum and flanks; chin of juveniles with black line under lower lip, and a second parallel black line on troat; troat and belly become black first at maturity (Ref. 55074). Body of mature adults reported to be entirely black (Ref. 55074).