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 well developed and completely scaleless ventral keel between pelvic and anal fins; body depth at dorsal-fin origin 29-34% SL; caudal-peduncle depth 10-12% SL and 1.5-1.9 times in its length; predorsal length 54-57% SL; mouth slightly superior, the tip of the mouth cleft between level of middle of pupil and upper margin of pupil; 47-56 + 2-3 scales on lateral line, 10-12 scale rows between lateral-line and dorsal-fin origin, 4-5 scale rows between lateral-line and anal-fin origin; anal fin with 13½-16½ branched rays; pharyngeal teeth 5.2-2.4, markedly hooked; total vertebrae 38-40, comprising 19-21 abdominal and 18-20 caudal vertebrae; dark grey stripe slightly distinct on anterior and posterior parts of body; pigmentation of lateral line is distinct anteriorly and posteriorly (Ref. 94737).