Diagnosis: The presence of widely spaced unicuspid teeth on both the upper and lower oral jaws and a moderately inclined vomer place this species in Cynotilapia (Ref. 119465). Cynotilapia chilundu is distinguished from C. afra, C. zebroides and C. aurifrons by its slender body with body depth 24.9-31.1% of standard length vs. 31.8-37.2% on the other three species (Ref. 119465). Male C. chilundu differ from those of C. axelrodi by the presence pf a black submarginal band in the dorsal fin which is absent in C. axelrodi; females of the latter species lack distinct bars on the flank and interorbital bars on the head, while both these characters are evident in female C. chilundu (Ref. 119465).

Description: Vomer moderately inclined (Ref. 119465). Elongate species, body depth 22.6-28.5% of standard length, with greatest body depth at base of seventh or eighth dorsal-fin spine; ventral body profile between pelvic and anal fins flat with upward curve to caudal fin; head profile slightly concave between snout tip and interorbital area, with 40-50° angle with body axis, then round to dorsal-fin origin; snout short with thick, slightly prognathic lower jaw (Ref. 119465). First 5 dorsal-fin spines gradually longer posteriorly with first spine less than on third length of fifth spine; soft dorsal fin with subacuminate tip, fourth ray longest, reaching to one third of caudal fin in males and slightly beyond caudal-fin base in females; pectoral fin rounded, paddle-shaped; anal fin with 3 spines progressively longer posteriorly; fourth ray longest, length to base of caudal fin in both male and female; caudal fin subtruncate to emarginate (Ref. 119465). Flank scales ctenoid; small cycloid scales on breast and belly; cheek with 4-7 rows of small scales; dorsal fin and anal fin with narrow proximal band of tiny scales; tiny scales on proximal 3/4 caudal fin (Ref. 119465).

Colouration: Males in territorial colour with blue ground colouration and 5-6 distinct dark blue/black bars; caudal peduncle dark blue; breast dark brown; belly light brown/white; head black with 2 blue interorbital bars; throat black; anal fin black/blue with 4-6 yellow ocelli; light blue leading margin; pectoral fin rays gray with clear membranes; pelvic fin black with blue leading edge; membranes dark gray (Ref. 119465). Females' ventral flank light brown; rest of body light blue with 4 light brown bars on flank, less pronounced posteriorly; belly and breast white/beige; head light brown with 2 faint light blue interorbital bars; throat light brown; anal fin proximally 2/3 dark gray, remaining 1/3 light gray with 2-4 yellow/orange ocelli; pectoral fin light gray with clear membranes (Ref. 119465).