Can be diagnosed from its congeners in Apennine Peninsula by having the following characters: dorsal and anal fins with 9½ branched rays; 36-42 (usually 38-39) scales along lateral line; mouth subterminal; pelvic, pectoral and anal fins greyish; eye red in life; conspicuous dark brown midlateral stripe from eye to caudal fin base (Ref. 59043).