Age structure and growth characters of 129 Triplophysa markehenensis collected from the Markehe River and its tributary,Zequ,in upper reaches of the Dadu River were investigated and analyzed. The characteristics of three kinds of age identification materials of T. markehenensis,otolith,vertebra and last unbranched dorsal-fin ray,had been described and compared. The results showed that both otolith and vertebra could be used for age identification of the species,and otolith is more appropriate compared with vertebra, which could be used as accessory identification material. However,the unbranched dorsal-fin ray is not suitable for age identification in this species. Age of the fishes was identified to seven age classes (2-8 years old), and individuals of 3-6 years old were dominated with a frequency of 83.5% . The regressed equation between body weight (W) and body length (L) is W=0.000015 L^2.951931 (R²=0.967 3). Growth model of the species was described using Von Bertalanffy equation: L_t=173. 124 1[1-e^{-0.159 7(t +0.5328)} ],W_t=60.753 1[1-e^{-0.159 7(t +0.5328)} ]2.9519 . Growth inflexion occurred at 6. 25 years,when body length is 114. 5 mm and body weight is 17.9 g.