Diagnosis: 14-18 rakers on lower limb of first arch; 30-31 scales in lateral line (Ref. 81260). Body silver-grey, with mid-lateral black band interrupted anteriorly on caudal peduncle (Ref. 2, 81260). Head length 33.0-38.4% of standard length; jaw teeth with slender shafts and broad crowns (Ref. 81260). Mature fishes of both sexes with variable black areas on lower jaw and lower parts of head; no tilapia-mark (Ref. 2).

Description: lower pharyngeal jaw with unicuspid anterior and posterior teeth; ventral keel elongate longer than, or as long as, dentigerous plate; 4-7 rows of teeth in oral jaws, outer row teeth bicuspid (Ref. 81260).

Coloration: silvery grey (Ref. 2, 81260), with a mid-lateral black band extending from opercle to caudal fin base (Ref. 2, 52307, 81260), often interrupted anteriorly on caudal peduncle (Ref. 2, 81260). Adults may have black spots or blotches on lower jaw and/or preopercle; body of juveniles pearly; pelvics and anterior part of anal fin tinted with vermillion or orange (Ref. 81260). No "tilapia" spot present (Ref. 2, 81260). Black spot often present at origin of caudal fin (Ref. 52307).