Key to the species of the genus Haploblepharus (based on type material and mature specimens only)

1a. Snout acutely rounded, often coming to a point in adults; body slender and compressed to moderately depressed in adults; less than 70 tooth rows total in upper jaw of adults.................................................... 2

1b. Snout broadly rounded, not coming to a point in adults; body stocky and moderately to greatly depressed in adults; more than 75 tooth rows total in upper jaw of adults .................................................................. 3

2a. Body moderately depressed; head width at pectoral fin origin 1.31 times or greater than head height at pectoral fin origin; abdomen width 0.95 times or greater than abdomen height ....................... H. edwardsii

2b. Body weakly depressed to weakly compressed; head width at pectoral fin origin 1.29 times or less than head height at pectoral fin origin; abdomen width 0.90 times or less than abdomen height .. H. kistnasamyi

3a. Saddles and/or spotting always present, saddles and spots usually occurring together, saddles and spots obvious when present; 84 or more tooth rows total in upper jaw .................................................... H. pictus

3b. Saddles or spotting usually not present, saddles and spots rarely occurring together, saddles and spots inconspicuous when present; 83 or less tooth rows total in upper jaw.......................................... H. fuscus