Diagnosis: Marcusenius verheyenorum belongs to the group of species of Marcusenius with eight large circumpeduncular scales (Ref. 124516). In this group, it differs from M. dundoensis, M. fuscus, M. lambouri, M. sanagaensis, M. schilthuisiae and M. wamuinii by its low number of lateral line scales, 38-43 vs. 51-56, 54-61, 45-48, 44-46, 43-54 and 46-53, respectively; it differs from M. ghesquierei and M. kutuensis by its low number of dorsal-fin rays, 21-22 vs. 32-34 and 27-31, respectively; it differs from M. intermedius, M. kaninginii, M. lambouri and M. moorii by its low total number of vertebrae, 40-41 vs. 42-43, 43-44, 44-45 and 42-44, respectively, and a deep caudal-peduncle height, 44.9-54.6% of its length vs. 37.8-43.8%, 35.0-43.0%, 29.8-39.3% and 29.4-41.3% respectively (Ref. 124516).

Description: Body compressed, with middle body depth higher than body depth at origin of dorsal and anal fins; head profile rounded (Ref. 124516). Mouth terminal, with upper jaw located at lower level of eye; eye small, located on anterior part of head; small submental swelling on chin; lower nostril more posteriorly on head than upper one (Ref. 124516). Five biscuspid teeth on upper jaw, six on lower jaw (Ref. 124516). Pectoral fin rounded and short, just reaching base of pelvic fin; predorsal distance somewhat longer than preanal distance; dorsal fin slightly shorter than anal fin, starting from level of third to fourth anal-fin ray up to before posterior level of the latter; dorsal-fin rays 20-21, anal-fin rays 2, pectoral-fin rays 10 (Ref. 124516). Scales on lateral line 38-43; scales between dorsal and anal fins 16-17, scales between dorsal fin and lateral line 8-9, scales between pelvic fin and lateral line 9-10 (Ref. 124516).

Colouration: In life, overall body colouration usually dark yellow on upper parts of head and body, from above chin bulge bordering eye, over pectoral-fin region, above lateral line along body and ending towards upper, anterior, base of caudal peduncle; fins also dark yellow and brownish on their distal tip; lower parts of body and caudal peduncle greyish with metallic green reflections; posterior flank with a vaguely visible black vertical stripe from between anterior part of dorsal-fin base, from about first ray onwards, towards anterior part of slightly more anterior anal-fin base, from about 3rd to 9th ray onwards, and with a width covering two to three horizontal scale rows (Ref. 124516). Preserved specimens are yellowish brown; pectoral, pelvic, dorsal and caudal fins are light yellowish; through time, the vertical stripe becomes less visible or even tends to fully disappearing in some specimens (Ref. 124516).