This species can be diagnosed from its congeners in Turkey and adjacent waters by the following combination of characters (none unique to the species): a poorly developed and completely scaled ventral keel between pelvic and anal fins; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 24-29% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 10-12% SL and 1.9-2.2 times in its length; predorsal length 48-55% SL; mouth terminal, the tip of the mouth cleft between level of lower margin of pupil and lower margin of eye; the tip of upper lip not projecting beyond the lower lip (tip of both lips are equal) in most specimens; snout with rounded tip; 45-53 + 1-2 scales on lateral line, 9-11 scale rows between lateral-line and dorsal-fin origin, 4-5 scale rows between lateral-line and anal-fin origin; anal fin with 11½-13½ branched rays; pharyngeal teeth 5.1-2.4 or 5.2-2.4, markedly hooked; total vertebrae 41-42 with mode of 42 (including 4 Weberian vertebrae and last complex centrum), comprising 20-22 with mode of 21 abdominal, and 20-21 with mode of 21 caudal vertebrae; dark grey stripe distinct on anterior and posterior parts of body; pigmentation of lateral line distinct (Ref. 94737).