Differs from any other Chinese Schistura loaches by the following combination of characters: color pattern consisting of 8-12 dark brown bars, absence of scales and presence of median notch in lower jaw. Distinguished from the closely related S. fasciolata

by: absence of scales on body (vs. scaled body); exoccipital fenestra seen from lateral view only); 7-8 vertebrate between the Weberian apparatus and first proximal radial of dorsal fin (vs. 9-10) (Ref. 7410).