Diagnosis: body depth 2.5-2.8 times in SL (Ref. 4967, 55060). Mouth not conspicuously large (Ref. 54836). Teeth of jaws with slender shafts in young, uniformly slender in adults (Ref. 2). Pharyngeal teeth very fine and crowded (Ref. 2, 55060). Dentigerous area of lower pharyngeal jaw with rounded lobes and short apex, its median length nearly always less than that of the blade (Ref. 2). Pectoral fin 34.3-42.2% SL (Ref. 2, 55060), rarely below 36% SL (Ref. 2), reaching origin of anal fin (Ref. 4967, 55060). Mostly with 4 anal spines, sometimes 3 (Ref. 2, 54836), rarely 5 (Ref. 2). Scales with dark centers and golden-yellow edges (Ref. 2). Caudal fin with dark vertical stripes (Ref. 2, 54836, 55060).

Description: mouth small; jaws not enlarged; jaw teeth very slender, in 5-7 series in adults (Ref. 2). 2 series of scales on the cheek (Ref. 2, 55060). Scales on chest very small; median row of scales on belly and three on each side of it noticeably smaller than the flank scales (Ref. 2). Dorsal fin extending halfway along caudal fin; no genital tassel (Ref. 55060).

Coloration: Non-breeding fish: light grey or grey-green with numerous dark brown or black spots along back and sides (Ref. 2, 55060), each on one scale, but of irregular sizes and shapes, and some scales unmarked (Ref. 2). Belly light grey (Ref. 55060). Faint indications of 7-9 vertical bars on body (Ref. 2, 55060). Mid-lateral longitudinal band generally formes by emphasis of the spots; scales of belly pale with dark edges; spots extending on top and sides of head to varying degrees, often strong at the temporal lateral line pores (Ref. 2). Dorsal and anal fins grey (Ref. 55060). Dorsal fin with dark spots or reticulum on the spinous part, oblique bars on the soft part; anal fin barred posteriorly (Ref. 2). Caudal fin with vertical bars (Ref. 2, 4967, 54836, 55060), sometimes becoming irregular or fading out distally (Ref. 2). Pectoral fins unpigmented; pelvic fins becoming darker in larger fish (Ref. 55060). Mature males: green or purple sheen (Ref. 2, 55060) on body, cheeks and opercula (Ref. 2). Dorsal margin bright orange; caudal margin crimson; pelvic fins and often edge of anal fin bluish green (Ref. 2, 55060). Possibly with yellow spots on dorsal and anal fin, and the caudal margin yellow to orange; dark mottlings on flanks more intense during aggressive or courting behaviour; in life dark spots accompanied by golden-yellow spots (Ref. 2). Young: up to 8cm with olive-greenish body with 10-14 thin vertical dark brown stripes stretching from dorsal to ventral surface; caudal and hind end of anal fin striped as in adults; well marked black Tilapia-mark on a clear background extending from last dorsal spine to the third or fourth soft ray, and followed by 3 definite black bars on hind end of dorsal fin (Ref. 55060).