Diagnosis: Female and subadult Melanochromis loriae are distinguished from their congeners, except those of M. melanopterus, M. lepidiadaptes, and M. kaskazini, by a white to cream coloured body vs. yellow to brown in other congeners, two black horizontal stripes on the flank, a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin, and black markings on the lower lobe of the caudal fin; Melanochromis loriae is distinguished from M. melanopterus and M. kaskazini by a shorter lower jaw, 31.9-35.2% of head length vs. 37.2-41.7% on M. melanopterus and 36.4-44.6% in M. kaskazini, and from M. lepidiadaptes by the higher number of tooth rows, 5-7 vs. 2-3 (Ref. 89864). Male Melanochromis loriae in breeding colouration are distinguished from their congeners, except M. melanopterus, M. simulans, and M. robustus, by a broad black band in the spinous part of the dorsal fin, absent in all congeners; it is distinguished from M. melanopterus and M. simulans by a shorter lower jaw, 31.9-35.2% of head length vs. 37.2-41.7% in M. melanopterus and 40% in M. simulans, and from M. robustus by a shallower caudal peduncle, 11.7-12.6% of standard length vs. 12.9-14.4% (Ref. 89864).

Description: Small, oblong species with greatest body depth at about base of ninth dorsal spine; dorsal body profile with downward curve to caudal peduncle, in some specimens more acute curvature near posterior end of dorsal fin; ventral body profile straight to slightly convex between pelvic fins and vent, with upward taper along base of anal fin to caudal peduncle; dorsal head profile rounded, with almost continuous curve between snout tip and dorsal fin origin; horizontal eye diameter greater than preorbital depth; more than three quarters of eye, along horizontal axis, located in anterior half of head; moderate to steep head profile, straight to slightly convex snout and slightly retrognathous jaws; wide tooth bands with 5-7 rows in lower and upper jaws; teeth in outer row unequally bicuspid and teeth in inner rows tricuspid; single series of unicuspid teeth where outer and innermost rows meet (Ref. 89864). Dorsal fin with XVIII-XIX spines and 7-9 soft rays; anal fin with III spines and 7-8 soft rays; first 3 or 4 dorsal spines becoming gradually longer posteriorly with first spine less than 1/2 length of fourth; last 15 spines becoming slightly longer posteriorly with last spine longest; soft dorsal with rounded tip in females or rounded to subacuminate tip in males, third or fourth ray longest, not reaching caudal fin in females and extending to approximately base of caudal fin in males; anal spines becoming progressively longer posteriorly; third or fourth ray longest, not reaching base of caudal fin; caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate; pelvic fin short, not reaching anal fin; pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped, short, reaching vertical line through base of 11th or 12th dorsal spine (Ref. 89864). Flank scales large, ctenoid; abrupt transition to small scales on breast; cheek with 4-5 rows of small scales; bands of small scales on proximal margins of caudal fin; 75-90% of caudal fin covered with tiny scales; no scales on other fins (Ref. 89864).

Colouration: Breeding males: head dark blue/black with two light-blue interorbital bands; cheek and gular region black; nape dark blue/black; body dark blue/black with solid light-blue midlateral stripe and more diffuse light-blue dorso-lateral stripe; caudal peduncle dark blue/black with blue midlateral stripe; belly and breast dark blue/black; dorsal fin dark blue with broad black submarginal band and light-blue lappets, in some males posterior dorsal with yellow margin; caudal fin with dark-blue/black membranes and some light-blue rays, light-blue margin with narrow yellow posterior edge; anal fin black, with 0-3 orange/yellow ocelli on posterior margin and light-blue ventral margin; pelvic fin black with light-blue anterior margin; pectoral fin with gray/black rays and clear membranes (Ref. 89864). Females: head gray/green on snout and nape, and cream/white on cheek and throat with two black interorbital bars and third bar on nape extending to dorso-lateral stripe; body white/cream with broad black midlateral and dorso-lateral stripes, each 2-3 scales wide; dorsal and anal fin white with broad black submarginal band, caudal fin white with clear margin and black spots and streaks throughout fin; pelvic fin white with narrow white/light-blue anterior margin and black submarginal band; pectoral fin clear (Ref. 89864).