Can be diagnosed from its congeners in Adriatic and Aegean Sea basins by having the following characters: breast without scales between pectorals, scales not reaching forward beyond pectoral base; 37-38 + 3 scales on lateral line; barbel reaching to or beyond posterior eye margin; head length 27-30% SL; eye diameter 1.2-1.4 times in interorbital distance; snout length 34-42% HL; 6-7 midlateral blotches, often arranged two by two (Ref. 59043).