Description: without typical predator habitus; bicuspid outer dentition (Ref. 55954).

Can be differentiated from species of Mylochromis, except M. gracilis and M. spilostichus by having shallower body (26-28% SL vs. 29-44), and higher number of lateral line scales (37-38 vs. 30-36); the oblique band is continuous, extending onto the caudal peduncle, while in M. spilostichus, the band is broken into a series of spots and in M. gracilis, the band may be broken and does not continue onto the caudal peduncle; M. spilostichus and M. gracilis generally possess a much shallower preorbital bone depth (16.7 and 19.2-20.0, vs. 19.9-26) than M. ensatus (Ref. 41276).