Diagnosis: A moderately gracile species, with rounded head and well-developed sexual dimorphism and dichromatism (Ref. 97630). It differs from all congeners with the exception of Pelvicachromis taeniatus by a black margin with a white to pale bluish submargin in the lower half of the male caudal fin, vs. no margin/submargin in the other species, and it differs from all congeners in a white margin and a black submargin in the dorsal half of the male caudal fin, vs. not present (Ref. 97630). It differs in female colouration from P. taeniatus and P. kribensis in showing a dusky blackish margin and absence of horizontal dark bars in the caudal fin (Ref. 97630). It differs from P. taeniatus and P. kribensis in a caudal peduncle usually longer than deep, vs. shorter than deep to as long as deep; it differs from P. humilis, P. rubrolabiatus and P. signatus in the absence of seven-eight dark, vertical bars on body, and in three tubular infraorbital bones vs. two; it differs from P. silviae in a lesser body depth, 28.7-35.1% of standard length vs. 37.4-43.0%, longer caudal peduncle, the caudal peduncle length 93.9-124.6% of caudal peduncle depth vs. 73.2-85.3%, 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 of caudal fin; it differs from P. roloffi in greater caudal peduncle length, 12.4-18.2% of standard length vs. 9.4-12.2%, and higher number of pored scales of lateral line, 27-29 vs. 24-26; it differs from P. sacrimontis in shorter interorbital distance, 16.3-27.4% of head length vs. 29.4-45.3%; it differs from P. pulcher in rows of dots in the central field of the male caudal fin vs. absence (Ref. 97630).

Description: A small cichlid species with body moderately gracile, dorsal head profile rounded and short snout; ventral body wall gently rounded to caudal peduncle, more rounded in ripe and gravid females; caudal fin rounded (Ref. 97630). Caudal peduncle usually longer than deep, but deeper then long in few specimens (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, rarely 2 rows of teeth, dentary usually with 2 rows, in few smaller specimens rarely with 1 row of regularly set unicuspid teeth (Ref. 97630). 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; 9-10 tuberculate gill rakers on ceratobranchials, 4-8 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 or 4 scales between pectoral and pelvic fins; upper lateral-line separated from dorsal-fin base anteriorly by two and a half to three and a half scales, at the 8th pored scale by one or one and a half scales, and at last pored scale by half or one scale; end of upper lateral-line never overlapping lower lateral)line, usually separated from beginning of lower lateral-line by 1-4 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 ventral parts of body (Ref. 97630). Dark scale-less spot on the 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 yellow, more prominent in dominant specimens (Ref. 97630). Dark longitudinal stripe sometimes visible on sides, at about height of lower lateral-line, from posterior edge of eye to end of caudal peduncle, but not extending onto caudal fin; dark stripe dorsal of upper lip, proceeding from angle of mouth to anterior edge of eye; upper edge of eye golden-yellow; dark yellow to pale reddish horizontal stripe from angle of the mouth to anterior edge of preopercular, bordered pale bluish to turquoise dorsally and ventrally; pectoral fin clear to pale yellow (Ref. 97630). Male-specific colouration: dorsal fin pale yellow to brownish, with red margin, tips of spines and rays in posterior two thirds of this fin bluish-white; most caudal parts of this fin with some pale bluish maculae; upper half of caudal fin with white margin, followed by a dark submargin and a white to bluish second submargin after this; black submargin of upper half passes over to a black margin in lower half of the fin, second white to bluish submargin of upper half of this fin passes over to a white to pale bluish submargin in lower half; central field of this fin reddish and with 4-7 rows of blue maculae, more prominent in lower parts; anal fin with dark margin, base and central parts of this fin yellowish, remainder of this fin reddish to violet with bluish maculae in posteriormost parts; leading edge of pelvic fins bluish, first soft ray dark grey to black, other parts of this fin reddish to pale violet; body scales with dark margins; ventralmost parts of opercle, subopercle, interopercle and chest pale yellow (Ref. 97630). Female-specific colouration: dorsal fin iridescent yellow, with thin black margin, followed by some thin, bluish submargin in some specimens; first two spines of this fin and lappet between these spines black; one or two black dots in soft ray part of this fin in some individuals; caudal fin yellow, with dark grey to blackish, transparent margin, upper half of this fin with iridescent bluish to pale violet hue, one or two black dots on upper half of this fin in some individuals; anal fin yellow with pale bluish 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, chest whitish; flanks and belly region, up to about middle of the body, wine red; yellow blotch in middle of body, from about lower lateral to dorsal fin-base or somewhat below, usually separated from red belly by one or two bluish scale rows (Ref. 97630). When courting, caudal and anterior dorsal 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).