Diagnosed from its congeners in Balkan Peninsula by having the following characters: last simple dorsal ray slender, serrated posteriorly along lower half in individuals less than about 10 cm SL, usually serrated in large ones; pectoral and pelvic triangular; when extended width between tip of first and last branched pelvic rays greater than length of last ray; and posterior margin of dorsal slightly concave; 46-52 + 3-4 scales on lateral line; 10-12 scale rows between lateral and dorsal origin; 7-8 scale rows between lateral and pelvic origin; and lower lip with a short median lobe or a median swollen pad in some individuals smaller than 12 cm SL (Ref. 59043).