Distinguished from other species of Yunnanilus by the following combination of characters: dorsal-fin rays iii, 9; anal-fin rays iii, 5; pectoral-fin rays i, 11; pelvic-fin rays i, 7-8; branched caudal-fin rays 14; mouth subterminal; 9-11 gill rakers in the inner side of the first gill arch, outer row of gill rakers absent; upper two-thirds of body and head covered by large brown spots; fins hyaline; body covered with scales; no lateral line; no cephalic sensory pores; caudal peduncle length less than caudal peduncle depth; caudal peduncle length 9.2-11.1% SL; body depth 21.0-25.8 % SL; eye diameter 5.4-6.0 % SL; interorbital width 9.9-12.1 % SL (Ref. 89956).