Recognized as a species of the genus Cyprichromis by the elongate abdominal

cavity, extending posteriorly beyond the anal fin origin. Cyprichromis coloratus n. sp. can be distinguished from C. microlepidotus by fewer scales in the longitudinal line (41-44 v. 59-70 in C. microlepidotus) and in the upper lateral line (31-36 v. 47-59), from C. leptosoma by more spines in the dorsal fin (14-15 v. 11–13 in C. leptosoma) and more scales in the longitudinal line (41-44 v. 38-40), from C. pavo by fewer dorsal-fin spines and soft rays (total number of spines and soft rays 29-31, usually 30, v. 30-32, usually 31, in C. pavo), and from C. zonatus usually by a shallower body [body depth 24.0–28.5 (26.4 +/- 1.1) % LS v. 24.5–30.5 (28.4 +/- 1.3) % in C. zonatus] and smaller eye (eye length (LE)

25.2–30.9 (27.2 +/- 1.1) % of head length (LH) v. 27.9–33.3 (30.2 +/- 1.2) %). Males of the new species are also distinguished from C. microlepidotus, C. pavo and C. zonatus by the following colouration features: absence of distinct small spots on body (v. presence of pearl grey and yellowish small spots along scale rows on body in C. microlepidotus and C. pavo), dichromatism (particularly of the caudal fin) in males of the same population (v. no dichromatism in C. zonatus), and absence of vertical bands on flanks (v. three or four distinct vertical bands beneath dorsal fin base in live males of C. zonatus) (Ref. 57033).