Diagnosis: lower pharyngeal jaw robust, with a large, triangular (not heart-shaped) dentigerous plate, covered with stout, sparsely arrayed teeth; oral dentition coarse; outer row teeth stout bicuspids (Ref. 26738, 81260). Anterior rakers not markedly reduced in size; snout acute (Ref. 81260). Ventral margin of lower lip smooth; 10-12 slender gill rakers (Ref. 26738, 81260). Ratio of lower jaw length to lower jaw width > 1 (Ref. 81260). 1-2 inner rows of teeth on both jaws (Ref. 26738, 81260).

Description: body slender; snout pointed; frontal profile moderately steep; lower jaws relatively prominent (Ref. 52307). Head length 31.2-36.8% SL; lower pharyngeal jaw with tricuspid anterior teeth, tricuspid posterior teeth; ventral keel much shorter than dentigerous plate; 2-3 rows of teeth in upper jaw, outer row teeth bicuspid (Ref. 81260).

Coloration: 3 stable color forms are known (Ref. 52307, 81260), which do not appear to represent different motivational states (Ref. 81260). (1) Green-red form: greenish brown dorsally, coppery red ventrally; snout and dorsum of head smoky grey-brown; upper lip dusky black, lower lip either dusky or with turquoise iridescence; cheek and opercle golden brown dorsally becoming red ventrally; chest deep coppery red; 5-6 faint vertical bars often present on flanks; dorsal fin yellowish green with prominent "tilapia spot"; caudal fin uniform smoky blackish green; anal fin reddish proximally with dusky black distal margin; pelvics and pectoral fins smoky yellow; (2) Dark red form: blackish dorsally, reddish black ventrally; snout, dorsum of head, upper and lower lips and chin black; opercle blackish dorsally becoming reddish ventrally; chest blackish red with slight silver iridescence at pectoral fin base; belly dark reddish black; dorsal fin smoky reddish black with prominent "tilapia spot"; caudal fin uniformly reddish black; anal, pelvic and pectoral fins black; (3) Pale form: pale brown dorsally, silvery grey ventrally; snout and upper lip smoky grey, lower lip silvery white; throat, chest and belly silvery white; dorsal fin pale brownish yellow with red tinge to lappets; prominent "tilapia spot" usually present; caudal, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins transparent with slight dusting of black; caudal fin margin has slight reddish tinge (Ref. 81260).