Distinguished from its congeners in Danube drainage by having the following unique characters: peritoneum black; anal fin usually with 11-12½ branched rays; and breeding males with two horizontal rows of large tubercles on side of head above eye, usually more or less fused into a continuous ridge (tubercles white in ethanol); and tubercles on body massive, occupying most of scale area. Can be further separated from other species of the genus in Danube drainage by the combination of the following characters: 44-46 scales along lateral line; mouth inferior; snout blunt; body laterally compressed, maximum body width about 50% of body depth; body greenish to bluish brown; iris silvery (Ref. 59043).