Diagnosis: Ctenochromis scatebra is recognised as a member of Ctenochromis because it possesses the diagnostic feature of a sharp break from small anterior scales to large posterior scales between the pectoral and pelvic fins, and it possesses scaleless areas on either side of the chest (Ref. 127080). In C. scatebra squamation is absent from the ventral part of the cheek, which is characteristic of the genus Ctenochromis; mature adult male of C. scatebra possess at least one clear non-ocellate egg spot on the anal fin (Ref. 127080). Ctenochromis scatebra can be distinguished from C. pectoralis based on two aspects of trophic morphology: it has front teeth in the outer row on both jaws that are primarily unicuspid, widened, shovel shaped, and often slanted, while side teeth in the outer row are unequally bicuspid and pointed; by contrast all front and side teeth in the outer row of C. pectoralis are all unequally bicuspid and pointed; Ctenochromis scatebra has a retrognathous jaw, while C. pectoralis has a marginally prognathous jaw (Ref. 127080).

Description: Body laterally compressed, deeper than wide (Ref. 127080). Head in lateral view slightly convex between eye and dorsal fin; snout straight in lateral view, rounded in dorsal view; mouth retrognathous; lips slightly thickened, equally developed; teeth in outer row primarily unicuspid, widened, shovel shaped, often slanted; side teeth in outer row unequally bicuspid and pointed; teeth in inner rows small, in fleshy tissue (Ref. 127080). Pectoral fin origin above dorsal fin origin, pelvic fin origin slightly more anterior; dorsal fin with 14-15 spines and 8-9 rays, anal fin with 3 spines and 7-8 rays; caudal peduncle longer than deep, caudal-peduncle depth 62.0-83.4% of caudal-peduncle length (Ref. 127080). Scales ctenoid on flanks; scales cycloid on head, between pectoral fin and anal fin, along dorsal-fin base; scales absent from chest; lateral-line scales 15-21/7-11 (Ref. 127080).

Colouration: Live colouration of mature males: dorsal body grey-blue, flanks lighter than dorsal with bluish sheen; depending on mood, a very faint midline stripe and 4-5 very faint vertical bars present; head dark grey-blue, blue sheen below and posterior to eye; blue tinge to lower lip; dorsal fin grey-blue with orange-red lappets, red posteriorly; pectoral fins black; pelvic fins with red base; anal fin grey/blue, red posteriorly, with one or two, rarely three, non-ocellate egg spots, multiple spots tightly packed; caudal fin light grey-blue, with red tinges at the dorsal and ventral tips (Ref. 127080). Euthanised fish: colours darker (Ref. 127080). Live colouration of females and subadult males: flank grey-brown base colour, white ventrally; fins uniformly light grey-brown; flank with 6-8 irregularly shaped and irregularly spaced vertical bars, alongside partially complete midlateral and dorsolateral stripes; bar and stripe patterns variable among individuals, faded in some specimens (Ref. 127080). Preserved colouration: in ethanol brown or beige; male non-ocellate egg spots on anal fin sometimes visible (Ref. 127080).