[3][4] The fish is named in honor of ichthyologist J. R. (John Roxborough) Norman (1898–1944), of the British Museum, who sent specimens to Ahl for "determination" of the species.

The surface and scales have a bluish tint with a yellow hue or outline on the body and the outer edges of the dorsal, caudal, and anal fins.

It is easy to confuse P. normani with its close relatives, P. stigmatopygus and Micropanchax scheeli, due to their similar body shapes and colors.

[8] The vibrant colors, large eye, and small size of P. normani make it a popular choice for home aquariums.

P. normani's diversification and separation from its ancestor species are attributed to its adaptation to more arid environments in the Middle and Late Miocene.

[13] Although some famous members of the family Poeciliidae are bear live young, P. normani lay small (1.49 ± 0.07 mm) eggs that are fertilized externally.

Countries where P. normani is found in freshwater rivers include Senegal, Ghana, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d'Ivoire, Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Libya, Sudan, and Chad.

Climate change also represents a concern, as some populations of P. normani inhabit shallow water areas vulnerable to drought.