A medium-sized cave-dwelling haplochromine with relatively deep body with greatest body depth at base of eighth or ninth dorsal spine (Ref. 82798). Otopharynx spelaeotes has a larger eye, 36.1-38.4% of head length, than most other Otopharynx species, and it has fewer lateral-line scales, 31-33, than Otopharynx argyrosoma (Ref. 82798). It differs from Otopharynx lithobates by having more teeth in the outer row of the left lower jaw (18-24), fewer gill rakerson the ceratobranchial (11-13) and by the male breeding coloration that includes yellow/orange ocelli on the anal fin and a blue/black dorsal fin with a very narrow white margin with orange/red lappets (Ref. 82798). It is distinguished from Otopharynx antron by a larger horizontal eye diameter (36.1-38.4% of head length), a shallower caudal peduncle, and more teeth in the outer row of the left lower jaw (Ref. 82798).