Key to species of the Macrobrachium placidulum species group
1. Rostrum with 3 or 4 postorbital teeth and epigastric length 0.23–0.27 of carapace length.............. M. ngankeeae n. sp.
– Rostrum with 4–7 postorbital teeth and epigastric length 0.24–0.55 of carapace length............................... 2
2. Rostral dorsal margin above eyes flat and straight................................................... M. feunteuni
– Rostral dorsal margin above eyes convex.................................................................. 3
3. Ocular beak absent or very poorly developed.................................................... M. placidulum
– Ocular beak well developed............................................................................. 4
4. T4 without median process..................................................................... M. placidum
– T4 with median process.................................................................. M. lepidactyloides