Diagnosis: This species differs from Zaireichthys kafuensis, Z. monomotapa, Z. pallidus and Z. rotundiceps in having the premaxillary tooth patch larger than 45% of mouth width; it differs from Z. conspicuus in the longer lateral line, 1.3±0.1 in standard length vs. 2.1±0.2, and colour pattern, lacking the bold blotches found in Z. conspicuus; and from Z. compactus in pigmentation pattern, with rows of elongate spots instead of the irregular blotches (Ref. 86935).

Description: Lateral line moderate, rarely extending beyond the base of the anal fin, with a tendency to be longer in females (Ref. 86935). Head broad, depressed, with moderately broad, bluntly pointed supra-occipital process; snout bluntly rounded, not protruding much beyond mouth; eyes moderate; mouth slightly less than half head width; barbels of average length for the genus, maxillaries reaching beyond origin of pectoral fins (Ref. 86935). There is tendency for the pectoral-fin spines and the caudal fin to become relatively shorter, and for the snout to become relatively longer in larger specimens (Ref. 86935). Dorsal fin II,5-7; adipose fin not closely approaching the procurrent rays of caudal; caudal fin slightly emarginate, with the lower lobe a little longer than the upper and with 10-13 branched rays, usually with one more in the lower lobe than the upper; anal fin with 10-13 rays, the first 4-6 simple; pectoral fins rounded with 6-7 branched rays, the spine bearing 4-7 barbs (Ref. 86935). Premaxillary tooth patch extended postero-laterally; the tooth patch 1.4-2.0 times in mouth width; branchiostegal rays 6-8 (Ref. 86935). Vertebrae 33-39 plus the ural complex, the first haemal spine on the 14th or 15th; ribs 5-7 pairs; humeral process pointed, passing level of supra-occipital process (Ref. 86935).

Colouration: Ground colour of preserved specimens yellowish; snout, interorbital, supra-occipital and opercular regions darkly marbled, infra-orbital region paler; a series of about eight dark blotches along the dorsal surface, the first x-shaped below the base of the dorsal fin and the last at the base of the caudal; 8-10 dark blotches mid-laterally, the last at the base of the caudal; a third series of smaller, less distinct spots ventro-laterally from above base of pelvics to end of caudal peduncle; dorsal fin with a small dark spot near the end of the spine, continued posteriorly as a faint bar of pigment on the rays; caudal fin with a dark bar basally and another bar at about 60% of its length; pectoral fins with a faint dark bar level with the tip of the spine; dark patches on dorsal surface of body extending into base of adipose; pelvic and anal fins hyaline or anal with faint dark bar (Ref. 86935).