Diagnosis: The Moderately sloped head, swollen rostral tip of the neurocranium, isognathous jaws, and the presence of bicuspid teeth in the outer rows of the jaws place this species in Maylandia; the continuation of the vertical bars on the side of fish into the dorsal fin separates this species from M. zebra; the gold highlights on the light blue ground colouration distinguishes this species from M. melabranchion (Ref. 27596).

Description: Jaws isognathous; teeth on jaws in 2-3 rows; majority of teeth in outer rows bicuspid, with a few posterior unicuspid teeth; those in inner rows tricuspid; 6-13 teeth in outer row of left lower jaw (Ref. 27596). Dorsal fin with 17-18 spines; dorsal-fin rays 8-10; pectoral fin with 13 rays; anal fin with 3 spines and 6-8 rays (Ref. 27596). Scales along side ctenoid; 31-33 lateral scales (Ref. 27596). First gill arch with 11-14 rakers on ceratobranchial, 2-3 on epibranchial, and 1 between the epibranchial and ceratobranchial (Ref. 27596). Lower pharyngeal bone triangular in outline (Ref. 27596).

Colouration: Lateral body colouration of breeding males from populations of Mumbo Island and from Malawian east coast between Nsinje River and Makanjila Point light blue with gold highlights and 7-9 faint bars below dorsal fin, fading to white ventrally; breast orange fading to white at pelvic fin; dorsal half of head, operculum, and cheek light blue; ventral portions orange/yellow; snout orange; dorsal fin pale blue, posterior membranes orange distally; caudal-fin rays orange with clear membranes; anal-fin rays blue/gray with 2 orange ocelli; distal portion of pelvic fin orange, remaining clear; pectoral fin clear (Ref. 86409). Females brown/gray with light-blue highlights laterally; belly white; head dark brown with blue/green highlights, gray/black opercular spot, and white gular; dorsal fin brown; caudal-fin rays brown and membranes clear; anal-fin rays brown with clear membranes; leading edge of pelvic fin white, rays brown; membranes clear; pelvic fins clear (Ref. 86409). At Gome, lateral body colouration of breeding males light blue, with 7-9 faint bars below dorsal fin; head light blue with gray highlights; interorbital area gray with 1 blue bar; gular white with yellow blotches; dorsal fin gray proximally, fading to white distally; caudal-fin rays clear with blue membranes; anal-fin rays gray with light blue/white membrane and 2 orange ocelli; leading edge of pelvic fin white, rays clear; first 2 membranes gray, remaining clear; pectoral fin clear; females same as in other populations (Ref. 86409).