Stenorynchoacrum xijiangensis differs from all species belonging to Labeoninae by the following characters: middle part of rostral cap undeveloped, narrow, only covering the base of the upper jaw, both sides of rostral cap well developed and extending upward, rostral cap connected the lower lip, both lateral part of which free, as the result of a long postlabial groove separating the posterior margin of lateral part of lower lip and the isthmus, the median part of lower lip protrudes to form a round fleshy pad, whose posterior margin continuous with the mental region, no crescentic fold surrounding the fleshy pad (Fig. 2). Other diagnostic characters include: ventral margin of rostral cap unfringed, upper lip regresses to form a row of thin, tiny lobes adnated to upper jaw, the posterior margin of lower jaw connected the anterior part of lower lip, lower lip well developed, variable papillae scattered on rostral cap and lower lip, the anterior margin of upper and lower jaws born flexible, cornified sheath, two pairs of barbels, pharyngeal teeth in 3 rows, and dorsal fin with eight branched rays (Ref. 95674).

Description: Dorsal-fin rays iii,8; anal-fin rays iii,5; pectoral-fin rays i,14-15; pelvic-fin rays i,8; gill rakers on first gill arch 8 or 10 (Ref. 95674).