Diagnosis: snout longer than half the head length (southern Nigeria and Cameroon); body depth 5.25-7x and head length 2.8-3x SL; head 3.75-4.85x longer than wide; snout more than half of head length (53-58%); scale formula 11.5-13.5/95-100/11-13 (Ref. 2936, 86396). 92-104 (Ref. 81638) or 95-100 (Ref. 2936, 86396) lateral line scales.

Description: originally named Gavialocharax on account of its long, beak-like snout; upper jaw with 2 canines anteriorly, followed by 18-27 teeth becoming gradually smaller; lower jaw armed with single anterior canine and 17-23 lateral teeth; 25-28 scales around caudal peduncle; 7-8.5 scales between lateral line and pelvic-fin bases (Ref. 2936, 86396). Jaws very elongate and slender, with upper jaw pivoting upwards on snout to result in pronounced gape when mouth open; anterior teeth becoming progressively shorter posteriorly with posterior teeth more closely packed; caudal fin forked with lobes rounded and densely covered with small scales; 7-8 scales between anal fin origin and lateral line; D: II-III,11-13; A: II-III,13-15 (Ref. 81638). Small scales, strongly ctenoid (Ref. 2936, 81638, 86396).

Coloration: side and lower part of body silvery; back, snout and top of head olivaceous green (Ref. 2936, 86396). Preserved specimens yellowish brown; mid-dorsal region of body dark from rear of head to origin of dorsal fin (Ref. 81638). Dark mid-lateral band from eye to central part of caudal fin; a second dorso-lateral dark band from nape to base of caudal fin, joining mid-dorsal profile at level of adipose fin (Ref. 2936, 86386). Lobes of caudal fin with 2 transverse dark bands and with distal dark spots variable present on distal portions of each lobe (Ref. 81638).