Distinguished from all its congeners in Turkey and adjacent waters by the combination of the following characters: large size, reaches up to at least 80 cm SL; body silvery in life; black spots on body medium to large (equal to or small than pupil), ocellated with circular white ring, scattered on back (sometimes present in predorsal area immediately in front of dorsal fin), middle and upper part of flank, and anterior part of lower half of flank in males larger than 23 cm SL, their number increasing with size; red spots irregularly shaped, surrounded with an irregular white ring, not conspicuous, scattered on a broad longitudinal area along middle of flank, their number increasing with size in specimens larger than 23 cm SL; head somewhat short (length 24.1-28.4% SL in both sexes), approximately 1.0-1.2 times body depth at dorsal-fin origin; maxilla short (length 8.5-10.7% SL in males, 8.5-9.6 in females), reaching beyond eye in specimens larger than 15 cm SL, upper edge convex posteriorly; and adipose fin somewhat deep, upper edge convex anteriorly (Ref. 85599).

Description: dorsal fin with 3-4 simple and 9-11½ branched rays; anal fin with 3 simple and 7-9½ branched rays; pectoral fin with 12-14 branched rays; pelvic fin with 1 simple and 8 branched rays (Ref. 85599).