This species is diagnosed from all congeners from Anatolia by the following unique combination of characters: head short, its length equal or slightly greater than body depth at dorsal fin origin; mouth slightly subterminal, the tip of the mouth cleft on approximately level of with lower margin of eye; snout rounded, its length greater than eye diameter; a faint and diffuse

epidermal black stripe from eye to caudal fin base in alive and preserved individuals; pared fins and caudal peduncle distinctly sexual dimorphic (male with longer pelvic and pectoral fins and slenderer caudal peduncle); lateral line incomplete, with 21-37 (commonly 26-37) perforated scales and 47-57+1-2 scales in lateral series (commonly 50-55); 10½-12½ scale rows between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 3-4 rarely 5 scale rows between lateral line and the pelvic fin origin; 7-8 (9) gill rakers on the first branchial arch; pharyngeal teeth 5-4 or 5-5, slightly serrated and hooked at tip; dorsal fin commonly with 7 (8)½ branched rays; anal fin with 6 (7)½ branched rays (Ref. 94468).