Diagnosis: This species differs from all other species in the Aphyosemion alpha group through a combination of following features: head orange, flanks grey-mauve, ventral region orange vs. never same colour pattern, anal fin origin with some red dots vs. no punctuation or only black dots on posterobasal portion for A. flavocyaneum and A. flammulatum (Ref. 119374). It is distinguished from all other species of the subgenus Chromaphyosemion by alpha-shaped mark in pre- and post-opercular region vs. no alpha-shaped mark, only some red macules (Ref. 119374).

Description: Dorsal fin 10-14 rays; anal fin with 11-15 rays (Ref. 119374). Scales on lateral line 23-26; predorsal scales 11-14; transverse scales 7-8 (Ref. 119374).

Colouration: Colouration of live males: flanks grey-mauve with two dark lateral stripes, three lines of very dark red dots from opercle to caudal peduncle; ventral region orange with some blue iridescent scales between end of anal fin and caudal peduncle; dorsal region brown, two rows of paradorsal copper scales in dorsal region from operculum to caudal peduncle with two lines of carmine red dots; head orange, premaxilla brown, mandible orange with black lower lips, with brown supraorbital region, orange infraorbital region with black macule, postorbital region orange with two black macules, orange pre-opercle with two black macules, orange opercle with three black macules; black macules on pre- and post-opercular regions reveal alpha-shaped drawings; dorsal fin blue on basal portion, orange on upper portion, yellowish on edge of fin, with rows of carmine red dots between rays, orange acumen on apex; anal fin mauve on basal portion, orange on median portion, yellowish portion near the submarginal band, with some carmine red macules, regular, red submarginal band, blue marginal band, small orange acumen; caudal fin light mauve, with tips of upper and lower lobes orange, red dots on median region, short red streaks in distal region and in upper and lower lobes, irregular red submarginal band, blue marginal band, orange acumens; pelvic fins orange with no punctuation, submarginal red band, blue marginal band; pectoral fins with orange reflections (Ref. 119374). Colouration of live females: flanks beige-pink, four lines of red dots from opercle to caudal peduncle, two greyish lateral stripes, venter yellow, white on basal portion; two rows of paradorsal copper scales in dorsal region from operculum to caudal peduncle with red dots; premaxilla brown, mandible yellow; orange zone on side portion with black lower lips, brown supraorbital region, white infraorbital region with black macule, orange postorbital region with two black macules, orange pre-opercle, and orange opercle with two black dots; dorsal fin intense orange, with rows of carmine red dots between rays; anal fin orange on the median portion with no dots; caudal fin intense orange near caudal peduncle, red dots between rays; pelvic fins with orange reflection, blue reflection on edges; pectoral fins translucent (Ref. 119374). Colouration of ethanol-preserved males and females: flanks of males dark grey with three lines of red dots, venter grey-yellow, two rows of paradorsal red scales in brown dorsal region from operculum to caudal peduncle; flanks of females beige with two dark lateral stripes, six lines of red dots from opercle to caudal peduncle, venter grey-yellow, two rows of paradorsal red scales in grey dorsal region, from operculum to caudal peduncle; premaxilla and mandible of male grey, with black lower lips, orange infraorbital region with black macule, orange pre-opercular region, orange opercle with one red macule; dark macules in post-opercular region; head of female with black lower lips, infraorbital region with red macule; dorsal fin of male orange with rows of red dots between rays, anal fin orange with some small red dots, red submarginal band, caudal fin orange with many red dots on basal portion, red streaks on edge and in upper and lower lobes; dorsal fin of female orange, with rows of red dots between rays, anal fin orange, with red streaks between rays, caudal fin orange, with rows of red dots between rays on median portion, red streaks on edge (Ref. 119374).