Diagnosis: Body slender, its depth about 17-22% of standard length; 13-14 pre-pelvic and 8-9 post-pelvic scutes, with pre-pelvic scutes not strongly keeled, beginning behind base of last pectoral finray, but post-pelvic scutes with sharp spines; maxilla blade about 2.25 times as long as its shaft, but not continued forward to hind tip of pre-maxilla; posterior supra-maxilla diamond-shaped or more or less rhomboidal, approximately symmetrical; lower gillrakers long and slender, 36-42; a distinct silver stripe along flanks, broadest over tips of pelvic fins (Ref. 188, 93833). It resembles Limnothrissa miodon of Lake Tanganyika, which is slightly deeper-bodied, has a larger eye, about equal to head length behind eye, and a maxilla blade continued forward to hind tip of pre-maxilla (Ref. 188).

Description: Body slender, its depth about 17-22% of standard length (Ref. 188). Snout narrow and pointed, rather longer than eye diameter, which is 3.5 times in head length; lower jaw slightly projecting; maxillary not or barely reaching vertical from anterior margin of eye (Ref. 2263, 5393). Lower gillrakers long and slender, 36-42; upper gill rakers 16-17 (Ref. 188, 5393). Dorsal fin with 15-16 rays, origin nearly equidistant from end of snout and base of caudal fin; anal fin with 16-17 rays; pelvic fin with 1 unbranched and 7 branched rays, below or a little in advance of middle of dorsal fin (Ref. 188, 2263, 36901, 45485, 93833). Scales small; 36-46 scales in longitudinal series; 13 transverse scales (Ref. 188, 2263, 36901). With 13-14 pre-pelvic and 8-9 post-pelvic scutes; pre-pelvic scutes not strongly keeled, beginning behind base of last pectoral finray; post-pelvic scutes with sharp spines (Ref. 188, 2263, 36901, 45485, 93833). Vertebrae: 44 (Ref. 45485).

Colouration: General body colour whitish, snout and upper side of head olive-yellow, dorsal side yellow-grey; side of head and lateral band silvery; ventral regions white; dorsal and caudal fin greyish (Ref. 36901). A distinct silver stripe along flanks, broadest over tips of pelvic fins, bordered dorsally by a dark line (Ref. 188, 5393, 36901).