Differs from its congeners in Europe by having the following characters: 5 scales between anus and anal origin; breast scaled forward until in front of pectorals; 37-39 + 2-3 scales on lateral line; 3½ -4 scale rows between lateral line and pelvic origin; 12-16 (usually 14) scale rows around caudal peduncle; interorbital area flat; head length 26-30% SL; eye diameter 1.2-1.7 times in interorbital distance; caudal peduncle depth 1.5-2.0 times in its length; and midlateral blotches not conspicuous, not contrasted and with fussy margins (Ref. 59043).