Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal bone about as long as broad, with anterior lamella shorter than toothed area; median pharyngeal teeth not broadened; 12-14 scales on caudal peduncle; 8-9 lower gill-rakers; 10-12 soft dorsal rays (Ref. 53405).

Description: body slender; head profile straight (Ref. 52307). Snout slightly elongated (Ref. 52307) and rounded (Ref. 53405). Mouth small (Ref. 52307), subterminal (Ref. 53405). Outer jaw teeth bicuspid and non-spatulate, inner jaw teeth tricuspid, posterior pharyngeal teeth tricuspid with the lower cusp often reduced, resembling bicuspid teeth; micro-gillrakers present; scales cycloid (Ref. 53405).

Coloration: in life: ground color rather dark greenish, with more or less distinct dark cross bars on sides and dark opercular spot; fins greyish; first rays of pelvics blackish in adults; scales on sides with black spot at centre; "tilapian" spot always absent (except in one population from Samou in Guinea); no coloured margin to dorsal fin or to upper caudal-fin angle (Ref. 53405).