[1][2][3] Adult males reach a length of about 60 mm, but the females are slightly smaller.

As with all members of the genus Nothobranchius, they show extreme life-history adaptations: their embryos survive by entering a three or four month long diapause, within eggs that have a very hard chorion and are resistant to desiccation and hypoxia.

The type locality is stated as "Bukama, Shaba province, southeastern Zaïre (09° 12Ž S-25° 51Ž E)".

The lectotype of the taxon is reposited as "MRAC 50016" at the Royal Museum for Central Africa in Tervuren, Belgium, together with 23 paratypes.

[3] The type was collected by the Belgian zoologist and colleague of Max Poll, Paul Brien (1894-1975), who is honoured in its specific name.