S. younghusbandi is up to almost 50 cm (1.6 ft) in total length, but the remaining species generally only reach about two-thirds of that size.[1] Similar to Platypharodon, Schizopygopsis have a horny sheath on the lower jaw and spoon-shaped teeth that they use to scrape off periphyton and algae from stones, but they will also eat benthic invertebrates.[3][4]
^Delin Qi, Songchang Guo, Yan Chao, Qinghui Kong, Changzhong Li, Mingzhe Xia, Baosheng Xie and Kai Zhao (2015). The biogeography and phylogeny of schizothoracine fishes (Schizopygopsis) in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. Zoologica Scripta 44(5). doi:10.1111/zsc.12116
^Tang, Y.; C. Li; K. Wanghe; C. Feng; C. Tong; F. Tian; and K. Zhao (2019). Convergent evolution misled taxonomy in schizothoracine fishes (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae). Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 134: 323–337 doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2019.01.008
^Qi, D. (2016). Fish of the Upper Yellow River. Pp. 233–252 in: G.J. Brierley et al. (eds.). Landscape and Ecosystem Diversity, Dynamics and Management in the Yellow River Source Zone. Springer Geography. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-30475-5_11
^Qi, D.; Y. Chao; S. Guo; L. Zhao; T. Li; F. Wei; and X. Zhao (2012). Convergent, Parallel and Correlated Evolution of Trophic Morphologies in the Subfamily Schizothoracinae from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. PLoS ONE 7(3): e34070. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0034070
