Triplophysa huanjiangensis can be distinguished from its congers by the following characteristics: eyes and scales absent; caudal-fin forked; adipose keel present; lips with furrows; distal margin of dorsal-fin truncate, dorsal fin origin much more closer to caudal-fin base than snout tip; branched dorsal-fin rays 8; branched pelvic-fin rays 6–7; branched anal-fin rays 6; branched pectoral-fin rays 10–11; branched caudal-fin rays 13–14; pectoral-fin length 52.3–70.7 % of distance between pectoral-fin origin to pelvic-fin origin; dorsal-fin origin posterior to vertical line of pelvic-fin origin; outer rostral barbel longer than other two pairs of barbels, with 47.0– 73.8 % of lateral head length; anterior nostril with elongate barbel-like tip; posterior chamber of gas-bladder developed, reaching pelvic-fin origin (Ref. 87449).