Diagnosis: relatively robust, body depth 29.5-35.4% of standard length; mouth large, upper jaw (28.5-35.2% HL); lateral line system on head not notably enlarged; coloration dominated by a continuous mid-lateral band running from opercle to mid-level of caudal peduncle; microbranchiospines present on outer faces of second through fourth gill arches (Ref. 81260).

Description: snout 30.5-40.0% HL; preorbital depth 18.5-24.0% HL; outer teeth in oral jaws with 2 unequal cusps or minor cusp reduced to a shoulder or absent; inner row teeth tricuspid at all sizes; lower pharyngeal jaw slightly longer than wide, teeth small and hooked; gill rakers small, conical; ; microbranchiospines present; lateral line system on head not enlarged or inflated (Ref. 81260).

Coloration: base body coloration silvery grey with some brassy iridescence (Ref. 81260). Continuous, dark grey-black mid-lateral band present from opercle to mid-level of caudal peduncle (Ref. 52307, 81260). Often a dark spot at caudal base; dorsal, caudal and pectoral fins watery yellow, orange-yellow in mature males; pelvic and anal fins dusky grey; large "tilapia spot" present in soft dorsal fin of juveniles, this spot fades with age but a trace may be retained in adults (Ref. 81260).