Diagnosis: A moderately gracile species, with rounded head and well-developed sexual dimorphism and dichromatism (Ref. 97630). It differs from Pelvicachromis drachenfelsi and P. taeniatus, by a male caudal fin colouration without black or white margins/submargins, vs. white margin and black submargin in upper half of fin in P. drachenfelsi and black margin with white to yellow submargin in loser half of fin in P. drachenfelsi and P. taeniatus; it differs from P. drachenfelsi in caudal peduncle being shorter than deep to as long as deep, vs. usually longer than deep (Ref. 97630). It differs from P. humilis, P. rubrolabiatus and P. signatus in absence of seven or eight dark, vertical bars on body, and in three tubular infraorbital bones vs. two; it differs from P. silviae in lesser body depth, being 30.4-37.3% of standard length vs. 37.-43.0%, shorter prepelvic distance, being 32.5-37.7% of standard length vs. 37.9-44.3%, greater preorbital distance, being 17.0-22.3% of head length vs. 16.3-17.3%, and more spines in dorsal fin, 17-18 vs. 14-16; it differs from P. subocellatus in males by absence of a lappet-like elongation of some rays in upper half of caudal fin; it differs from P. roloffi in greater caudal peduncle length, 12.1-15.4% of standard length vs. 9.4-12.2%, and higher number of pored scales of lateral line, 26-29 vs. 24-26; it differs from P. sacrimontis in shorter interorbital distance, 20.7-29.3% of head length vs. 29.4-45.3%; and it differs from P. pulcher in rows of dots in the central field and lower part of the male caudal fin vs. absence (Ref. 97630).

Description: Small cichlid species with moderately gracile body, rounded dorsal head profile and short snout; ventral body wall gently rounded toward caudal peduncle, more rounded in ripe and gravid females; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 97630). Caudal peduncle usually deeper than long to as deep as long (Ref. 97630). Infraorbital bone series with lachrymal and three additional tubular bones and a gap between 2nd and 3rd tubular infraorbital, lachrymal with four openings of laterosensory system (Ref. 97630). Premaxilla usually with 1-2 rows, dentary usually with 2 rows of regularly set unicuspid teeth; anteriorly in the lower jaw a few teeth orientated posteriorly, not buccaly; lower pharyngeal bone triangular, with unicuspid to weakly bicuspid teeth on lateral parts of this bone, and asymmetric bicuspid teeth in the central field (Ref. 97630). Gill rakers on first gill arch; 8-10 tuberculate gill rakers on ceratobranchials, 4-7 pointed gill rakers on epibranchials; well-developed hanging pad on roof of pharynx (Ref. 97630). Cycloid scales; 2 or 3 rows of scales on cheek; 4 horizontal rows on opercle; dark spot on outer edge of opercle unscaled; chest-scales smaller than body scales, 3-5 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins; upper lateral-line separated from dorsal-fin base anteriorly by two and a half to three scales, at the 8th pored scale by one or one and a half scales, and at last pored scale by a half or one scale; end of upper lateral-line never overlapping lower lateral-line, usually separated from beginning of lower lateral-line by no to five rows of scales; about 1/5 to 1/4 of caudal fin covered with scales, all other fins unscaled (Ref. 97630).

Colouration: Live specimens of both sexes: head and body pale brown to greyish brown; dorsum somewhat darker than ventrum (Ref. 97630). Dark scaleless spot on outer edge of opercle, with a pale iridescent blue margin on anterior and posterior edge; upper lip brownish to orange-brown, lower lip greyish to brown; throat and ventral parts of branchiostegal membranes pale to intense yellow, more prominent in dominant specimens (Ref. 97630). Dark midlateral band sometimes visible, at about height of lower lateral-line, from posterior edge of eye to end of caudal peduncle, but not extending onto caudal fin in most populations; dark stripe dorsal of upper lip proceeding from angle of mouth to anterior edge of eye; upper edge of eye golden-yellow to red; dark yellow to reddish horizontal stripe from angle of the mouth to anterior edge of preopercular in some populations, bordered pale bluish to turquoise dorsally and ventrally in some specimens; pectoral fin clear to pale yellow (Ref. 97630). Male-specific colouration: variable with numerous colour forms known; dorsal fin with very thin white margin in most specimens, followed by a red submargin and a white to pale yellow second submargin in anterior parts; spines light blue, interspinous membranes red, membrane of soft dorsal red with numerous light blue maculae; upper half of caudal fin with no or more often with red margin, followed by a white to bluish submargin in populations from the Lobe River system; lower edge of this fin dusky black to greenish; two to eight black dots on white to yellow field in upper half of caudal fin in most populations, absent in all populations from Lobe River system; central field of this fin reddish with 4-7 rows of blue maculae, more prominent in lower parts; anal fin with dark outer margin, rest of fin red to violet with many rows of small blue maculae in posterior parts; anterior edge of pelvic fins black to dark blue, followed by a thin blue line, and red colouration over 1 or 2 rays, posteriormost part of this fin greyish; body scales with dark margins; ventralmost parts of opercle, subopercle, interopercle and chest pale yellow (Ref. 97630). Female-specific colouration: dorsal fin iridescent whitish to yellow, with thin black margin, followed by thin, bluish submargin in some specimens; black margin broadest on first spines, continuously narrowing toward posterior parts and absent on last 4-6 rays; one to three black dots in soft ray part of this fin in some individuals; caudal fin yellow, with dark indistinct margin, upper half of this fin with one to few black dots in some individuals; anal fin yellowish with pale base and dark grey to blackish margin; anterior edge of pelvic fins black, other parts of this fin red to dark violet; lower parts of opercle, subopercle and interopercle yellow to whitish, chest whitish; flanks and belly region, up to about middle of the body, wine red, flanked by whitish to bluish colouration in upper parts; when courting, caudal and anterior body parts dark to blackish (Ref. 97630). Juveniles of both sexes exhibit a pattern of 2 or 3 rows of irregular dark spots on brown colouration, up to about 10-12 mm standard length; with increasing size, sex-specific colouration is seen (Ref. 97630).