Diagnosis: Luciobarbus lanigarensis is distinguished from other Luciobarbus species from the African Mediterranean Sea basin by a combination of characters, none of them unique (Ref. 121680). It is distinguished from L. guercifensis by having thin barbels vs. thick, the rostral-barbel origin placed clearly behind the tip of the snout, vs. rostral-barbel origin at the extreme anterior of the snout, and from L. mascarensis, L. yahyaouii and L. leptopogon, by having a wider interorbital distance, 38-47% of head length vs. 36-40% in L. mascarensis, 33-40% in L. yahyaouii, 36-39% in L. leptopogon, and a longer pectoral-fin, 21-24% of standard length vs. 16-21% in L. mascarensis, 18-21% in L. yahyaouii; it is further distinguished from L. chelifensis, L. leptopogon and L. mascarensis by having 43-45 + 1-3 lateral line scales, vs. 41-43 + 1-2 in L. chelifensis and L. leptopogon, usually 41 + 1-2 in L. mascarensis (Ref. 121680). It is distinguished from L. callensis, L. chelifensis and L. rifensis by having the last unbranched dorsal-fin ray serrated along 2/3 of its length, vs. last unbranched dorsal-fin ray serrated along almost its entire length, and a longer anal fin, 19-23% of standard length vs. 17-19% in L. callensis and L. chelifensis, 16-19% in L. rifensis; it is also distinguished from L. leptopogon and L. setivimensis by having a greater pre-dorsal distance, 53-59% of standard length vs. 49-52% in L. leptopogon, 47-52% in L. setivimensis (Ref. 121680).

Description: Middle sized and stout species, with a moderately long head; body deepest at dorsal-fin origin; depth decreasing continuously towards caudal-fin base; greatest body width between pectoral and dorsal-fin origins (Ref. 121680). Caudal peduncle compressed, 1.3-1.5 times longer than deep (Ref. 121680). Section of head roundish, flattened on ventral surface; snout rounded; mouth inferior (Ref. 121680). Dorsal-fin origin situated above pelvic-fin origin; anal-fin origin at vertical of 50-60% of distance between dorsal and caudal-fin origins; anal fin reaching to caudal-fin base; pectoral fin reaching 70-80% of distance between pectoral-fin and pelvic-fin origins; pelvic fin not reaching vertical of tip of last dorsal-fin ray when folded down; pelvic fin reaching to about 70-90% of distance between pelvic and anal-fin origins; posterior dorsal-fin margin slightly concave; posterior pectoral- and anal-fin margins convex; caudal fin forked with rounded lobes of equal length; dorsal fin with 4 unbranched and 8.5 branched rays, last unbranched ray ossified and serrated at 2/3 of its length; anal fin with 3 unbranched and 5.5 branched rays; pectoral fin with 14-17 and pelvic fin with 8 rays (Ref. 121680). Lateral line with 43-45 scales on flank and 1-3 scales on caudal-fin base; between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line 8.5-9.5 scale rows, and 5.5-6.5 scale rows between pelvic-fin origin and lateral line (Ref. 121680). Pharyngeal teeth in three rows: 4+3+2 (Ref. 121680). On first gill arch, 3-4 gill rakers on the upper and 8 on lower limb (Ref. 121680).

Colouration: Brown yellowish-golden in life and preserved individuals without colour pattern; head golden, cheeks and ventral side of head and body whitish; in life, fins orange (Ref. 121680).