Diagnosis: dorsal fin membrane pale, without dense black band; no strongly marked vertical bars on flanks; males often with few reddish maculae in caudal membrane but these never extend over entire fin; normally no markings on flanks, although stressed individuals sometimes with 2 horizontal bands; iridescent blue coloration on cheeks, opercle and anterior body (Ref. 81260).

Description: body depth 32.5-39.7% SL; head length 34.0-37.3% SL; caudal peduncle deeper than long to slightly longer than deep; some dorsal and anal fin rays elongated; caudal rounded in both sexes (Ref. 81260).

Coloration: body yellowish-brown to reddish-brown, paler ventrally (Ref. 52307, 81260). Normally no markings on flanks, although stressed individuals sometimes with 2 horizontal bands; dorsal fin and upper part of caudal with red margins (Ref. 81260). Females with chrome-colored/iridescent region in soft dorsal, sometimes also in upper third of caudal (Ref. 52307, 81260). Males often with few reddish maculae on posterior portion of the anal fin (Ref. 52307) and in caudal membrane (Ref. 52307, 81260) but these never extend over entire fin (Ref. 81260). Juveniles and sometimes adults with black "tilapia spot" in soft dorsal (Ref. 81260). Cheek and opercle with bluish iridescent flush that often extends over anterior third of body (Ref. 52307, 81260). Lower lips yellow; belly of ripe females with rosy coloration (Ref. 81260). Rarely, some red dots or maculae are found on the body (Ref. 52307).