Diagnosis: interorbital space narrow, 3.3-4.5 times in head length; 13-18 dorsal and 6-10 anal fin spines; flanks with even and distinct bars at all sizes; in adults, subopercle usually serrated and caudal fin squared; caudal peduncle developed; breeding males never marked with

orange (Ref. 81650).

Description: snout relatively acute; head profile straight; mouth relatively large; 3-16 scales in upper lateral line, 0-12 in lower; 2-4 scales above upper lateral line, 7-10 scales below; 1-8 serrations above opercular notch, no serrations within notch, 1-6 serrations below, 0-18 subopercular serrations, interopercle and preopercle entire (Ref. 81650).

Coloration: well-preserved specimens nearly always distinctly barred; each of 6-8 dark bars a little wider than pale interspaces; bars almost invariably straight and vertical with evenly edged borders, and usually continue onto anal and dorsal fin bases; pelvic fin with dark stripe along anterior edge; dorsal and anal fin spines and rays frequently capped with white; usually 1-2 horizontal streaks on cheek just posterior to orbit; dark patch at dorsal border of opercle; dark bars on Lower Guinean specimens wider than those from Congo (Ref. 81650).