Diagnosis: This species differs from Zaireichthys kafuensis, Z. kavangoensis, Z. monomotapa and Z. pallidus in having a premaxillary tooth patch with the buccal margin expanded laterally and from all other species in its more robust form and bold markings (Ref. 86935).

Description: Somewhat more robust Zaireichthys than other species of the genus (Ref. 86935). Lateral line short, ending at about vertical through base of pelvic fins; skin of dorsal surface of head and body with minute papillae (Ref. 86935). Supra-occipital process small, shorter than eye diameter, narrow and pointed; snout blunt; eye moderate; length of tube of anterior nostril about half height of tube of posterior nostril; mouth broad with fleshy lips; barbels relatively short (Ref. 86935). Dorsal fin II,6; base of adipose fin extending nearly to the first procurrent ray of caudal; caudal fin sub-truncate, with the lobes equal or the upper lobe slightly longer than the lower, with six branched rays in the upper lobe and seven in the lower; anal fin with 9-11 soft rays, the first 3-4 unbranched; pectoral fins rounded, not reaching rear end of dorsal-fin base, with 7-8 branched rays, pectoral-fin spine bearing 5-7 serrae; pelvic fins reaching just beyond origin of adipose fin, not extending to anal fin (Ref. 86935). Premaxillary tooth plate with the buccal margin expanded postero-laterally, the lateral extension being about one third the length of the bone; premaxillary teeth in 5-6 rows, the outer row with 6-7 and inner row with about 16 teeth on each side (Ref. 86935). Vertebrae 34-35, followed by the ural complex; six pairs of ribs, borne on parapophyses which are broad-based, attached to the anterior and posterior ends of the centra and each having a wide basal foramen between the branches; first haemal spine on the 14th or 15th vertebra; anal fin with 8-10 pterygiophores associated with the haemal spines of the vertebra 19-25 or 20-26 (Ref. 86935).

Colouration: Background beige with faint orange tint in adipose and upper caudal fin, yellowish on preservation; dorsal surface of body with a series of five dark brown/black patches, one below the base of the dorsal fin, another between the dorsal and adipose fins, two more below the adipose fin and the last on the caudal peduncle; a series of large, dark blotches mid-laterally and a lower series, one above the base of the pelvic fin, another above the origin of the anal fin and the third behind the base of the anal; the patches are often confluent, forming a reticulated pattern, or even broad vertical stripes; head brownish dorsally with yellow cheeks; caudal fin with a vertically elongated dark bar at its base and with a dark zone midway along the fin; anal fin with a dark band and pectoral fins with one or two such bands, the outer of which is faint (Ref. 86935).