This species is named for the bright yellow coloration exhibited by male specimens. Males of this species are usually yellowish orange in color and may also exhibit some blue or lilac coloration around the jaw area. Females of this species are usually less colorful and somewhat smaller than the males. Yellow Peacocks may also exhibit vertical banding on their bodies and males of the species often have yellow fins edged in white or light blue. These fish are endemic to Lake Malawi and they are usually found in the Nkhomo reef and in the area around Kande Island. This species tends to inhabit the intermediate zones of the lake – the areas where the rocky shoreline meets the sandy lake bottom.