Diagnosis: This species differs from Zaireichthys lacustris and Z. maravensis in possessing a premaxillary tooth patch that is less than 40% of the mouth width; it has shorter barbels than Z. wamiensis, maxillary barbel 0.9-1.3 in head length vs. 0.7-0.9; and it is distinguished from Z. compactus by higher number of branched pectoral-fin rays, 7 vs. 6 (Ref. 86935).

Description: Lateral line moderate, ending over middle or anterior part of anal fin base (Ref. 86935). Head broad and depressed; snout blunt; eye moderate; mouth narrow; barbels relatively short (Ref. 86935). Dorsal fin II,5-6; caudal fin slightly emarginate, with the lower lobe a little longer than the upper, the upper and lower lobes each with 7 or 8 branched rays; anal fin with 11-13 rays, the first 3-4 simple; pectoral fins with 7 branched rays (Ref. 86935). Premaxillary tooth patch narrow, less than 40% of mouth width, sub-rectangular; humeral process of cleithrum extending to between level of end of supraoccipital process and base of dorsal fin; branchiostegal rays 6-7 (Ref. 86935).

Colouration: Preserved: generally yellowish brown with a series of about nine faint dark blotches along centre of flank and traces of additional series above and below (Ref. 86935).