Key to the species of Nybelinella

1a Anal fin rays 45; no gill rakers on epibranchials; all neural and haemal spines ovate- shaped*............ brevianalis n. sp.

1b Anal fin rays 50–57; small gill rakers on epibranchials; neural and haemal spines thin and pointed.................... 2

2a Dorsal fin rays 70; total vertebrae 72; origin of anal fin below dorsal fin ray no. 19; predorsal length 52% SL........................................................................................ brevidorsalis Shcherbachev, 1976

2b Dorsal fin rays 79–92; total vertebrae 75–79; origin of anal fin ray below dorsal fin ray 29–40; predorsal length 39.5–46.5% SL............................................................................. erikssoni (Nybelin, 1957)