Diagnosed from other congeners in Black and Caspian Sea basin by having the following characters: breast naked between pectorals or only a few scales along midline; barbel extending between middle of eye and posterior eye margin; snout length 0.9-1.0 times in postorbital distance; head length 25-28% SL; head depth at nape 15-17% SL, at eye 44-50% HL; body depth 18-25% SL; head width 14-16% SL, 56-63% HL; eye diameter 4-6% SL, 2.7-3.4 times in head depth, 1.4-1.7 times in interorbital distance (at 7-11 cm SL); caudal peduncle depth 31-39% HL (Ref. 59043).