Differs from other species of Gobio in Black and Caspian Sea basins by a short barbel reaching to or slightly in front of anterior eye margin, mature males with dusky, dark grey body and fins, and breast scaled between pectorals (Ref. 56890), scales extending forward beyond pectoral base, at least in some individuals (Ref. 59043). Other diagnostic characters include: snout length greater than postorbital distance; scales between anus and anal origin 6-9 (usually 7-8); head length 24-27% SL; head depth 14-20% SL at nape, 47-53% HL at eye; body depth 20-23% SL; head width 14-17% SL, 53-63% HL; eye diameter 5-6% SL, 2.5-3.8 times in head depth, 1.2-1.6 times in interorbital distance (at 7-10 cm SL); caudal peduncle depth 32-39% HL (Ref. 59043).