Can be differentiated from all other congeners of the Yunnanilus pleurotaenis group by the following characters: body completely covered by scales, except between pectoral fins and pelvic fins; lateral line with 15-20 pores; dorsal fin with 8 branched rays; pectoral fin with 13-14 branched rays; the air bladder with two chambers, the anterior ones into bony capsules and a large free posterior chamber, filling body cavity; caudal fin slightly emarginated; body depth 3.9-4.6 times the standard length (SL); head length 4.1-4.4 times SL; caudal peduncle depth 7.5-9.0 times SL; eye diameter 5.5-6.7 times the head length (HL); interorbital width 2.2-2.4 times HL (Ref. 80969).