Melanotaenia salawati is distinguished from M. batanta by a shorter snout, a longer caudal peduncle, a longer dorsal-fin base, a longer second dorsal-fin base and more cheek scales. The new species differs from M. fredericki by a longer snout, a larger interorbital region, a shorter spine on second dorsal fin, a longer anal-fin base, more cheek scales and more gillrakers on the first branchial arch (Ref. 88845).