Diagnosed from other species of Barbus and Luciobarbus in Iberian Peninsula by having the following characters: sharp contrast between dark back and whitish belly in adults larger than 30 cm SL; caudal peduncle stout, depth about 1.2-1.4 times in its length; head length 24-29% SL; lateral line with 42-45 + 3 scales; last simple dorsal ray hardened and rigid on 1/2-3/4 of its length, with small serrae posteriorly along most of length; lower lip with or mostly without median lobe; and lower jaw tip covered by lower lip (Ref. 59043).