Distinguished from its congeners by having a broad orange to yellow band along the entire distal border of dorsal and caudal fins. Can be diagnosed from other species of Baryancistrus by the combination of the following characters: absence of clear dots on the body; naked abdomen; mandibullary teeth around 70; and dark body with very faint, almost indistinguishable light marks. Both young of Baryancistrus xanthellus and Baryancistrus chrysolomus possess wide light bands on dorsal and caudal fins, but these bands are only retained in adults of Baryancistrus chrysolomus. Both species differ in body coloration, Baryancistrus xanthellus is spotted while Baryancistrus chrysolomus is almost plain (Ref. 87296).