Diagnosed from other species of Barbus and Luciobarbus in Iberian Peninsula by having the following characters: body with numerous small black dots, more or less aligned in longitudinal series along scale rows; anal, part of caudal and pelvic fins red during spawning season; lower lip with a median lobe; last simple dorsal ray slender, with small or without serrae posteriorly; and lateral line with 46-50 + 3-4 scales (Ref. 59043).