Schistura scitula, sp. n., is described from small streams and headwaters in the upper Nam Gnouang (a branch of Nam Kading) in central Laos. It is distinguished from most other species of Schistura s.l. in the Mekong drainage by having the origin of the dorsal fin clearly behind a vertical through the origin of the pelvic fin; 13–18 irregular bars on the body, irregularly set and shaped; on anterior part of body, bars more or less fused with adjacent ones; bars not meeting with contralateral bars in predorsal area but connected at their upper extremity with adjacent ones in various combinations (stripes, chain, meshes), often leaving a pale middorsal band; complete lateral line; 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays; 9+8 branched caudal-fin rays; basicaudal bar broad, regular, not reaching dorsal and ventral midlines; no suborbital flap; no modified rays and no tubercles on pectoral fin in male.

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