Ecocarpia ningmingensis, gen. et sp. nov., a fossil cyprinid fish from the mid-Tertiary of the Ningming Basin, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, is similar to cultrins in having a slender body, terminal or slightly superterminal mouth, comparatively long anal fin base, and reduced bifurcation of the pelvic bone. The morphology of the pharyngeal teeth in the new taxon, however, is different from that of cultrins but very similar to that of the xenocyprinins: the first row of pharyngeal teeth is six or even seven in number, and all are laterally compressed, with a flat, smooth, lateral face and a long, narrow grinding surface that tapers slightly towards the apex. The only dental difference between Ecocarpia ningmingensis and xenocyprinins is the presence of a tiny and slightly recurved tip on some of the teeth in Ecocarpia, a condition that is similar to cultrins. Our phylogenetic study shows that Ecocarpia ningmingensis, cultrins and xenocyprinins form a monophyletic group, characterized by a single synapomorphy: reduction of the bifurcation of the pelvic bone. This grouping further supports the close relationship between cultrins and xenocyprinins.