Diagnosis: snout blunt; jaws weakly protrusible (ascending process of premaxilla short, not reaching anterior border of orbit) (Ref. 57414). Pelvic fins very lightly pigmented (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191) or unpigmented (Ref. 81650). Labyrinth composed of a complex, multiple folded plate (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191). Adults larger than 75 mm SL; body depth into SL usually fewer than 3 times; spot at base of caudal fin without pale ring in adults; lachrymal never serrated (Ref. 57414). Body and head grey or tan (Ref. 81650), flanks without faint mottling (Ref. 57414, 81650, 93191). 3-3.5 scales in upper and 8-8.5 in lower vertical series (Ref. 93191). 4 scales from last pored scale in upper lateral line to dorsal-fin base (counting pored scale) (Ref. 57414). 10-18 pored scales in upper lateral line (Ref. 81650), 9-14 in lower (Ref. 93191). 11-16 scales on right operculum; interorbit into head length 2.3-3.0 (Ref. 93191).

Description: body deep and oval (Ref. 57414). Head (Ref. 57414) and snout (Ref. 57414, 81650) blunt. Jaws only moderately protrusible (Ref. 57414, 81650). 1 cephalic pore in interocular space (Ref. 81650). 25-26 scales in lateral series; 13-17 scales in upper lateral line; 9-14 scales in lower lateral line; 3 (occasionally 4) scales above upper lateral line; 8 (occasionally 9) scales below upper lateral line; 11-16 scales on opercle (Ref. 57414, 81650). Operculum and suboperculum serrated; interoperculum sometimes serrated; preoperculum unserrated; 16 caudal fin soft rays (Ref. 57414). 4-16 serrations above and 3-9 below opercular notch, 9-26 subopercular serrations, 0-23 interopercular serrations, preopercle entire; soft dorsal, anal and caudal fins often thickly scaled nearly to tips with fine grey or brown scales (Ref. 81650).

Coloration: body, head and fins medium grey or brown; a dark spot marks base of caudal fin (spot ocellated in juveniles up to about 25 mm SL)(Ref. 57414, 81650). Paired fins usually unpigmented, although leading 2-3 interradial membranes in pelvic fins may be lightly tinted brown (Ref. 57414, 81650), this pigmentation feature more prominent in Congo basin populations than in those from Lower and Upper Guinea, in which pelvic fin pigment fades with size, sometimes completely absent from adults (> 70 mm SL)(Ref. 81650). Venter of living specimens sometimes silver and soft anal fin may be tipped with white; juveniles coloured dark chocolate brown with some lighter flecks and a narrow, pale vertical bar at level of dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 57414).