Differs from its congeners in Balkan Peninsula by having the following characters: origin of dorsal fin above pelvic base; dorso-hypural distance reaching between eye and nostril when reported forward from dorsal origin; free margin of flank scales faintly marked, not much contrasted against rest of scale, which is also pigmented; scale pocket dark brown; anal fin with blackish membranes and hyaline rays; head length equal to or slightly greater than body depth; mouth subterminal, upper lip conspicuously projecting beyond lower jaw, sometimes including tip of lower jaw; 44-46 + 2 scales on lateral line; dorsal fin and anal fin with 8½ branched rays; posterior margin of anal convex; in stretched anal of individuals larger than about 10 cm SL, distance between tips of first and last branched rays ( with the fin stretched out) 1.0-1.3 times caudal peduncle depth; and head length 26-29% SL (Ref. 59043).