Lentipes mekonggaensis can be diagnosed by the following characters: pectoral fin with 19-20 rays; second dorsal and anal fins I10, and 28-33 lateral scales; urogenital papilla retractable into a sheath-like groove and without lobes or other expanded tissue. Male is

characterised by few tricuspid teeth in the upper jaw (10-16), ctenoid scales on anterior body region strongly ossified, the base of the first dorsal fin not reaching the base of the second dorsal fin origin, and a specific body color, with a bright red head, a red band on caudal

peduncle and orange dorsal fins (Ref. 97410).

Description: scales in transverse backwards 11-13; scales in transverse forwards 7-12; zigzag scales 9-12 (Ref. 97410).