This species can be diagnosed from all congeners from Eastern Mediterranean Region (

Pseudophoxinus firati, P. kervillei, P. zeregi, P. zekayi) by the following unique combination of characters: head short, its length 26-28% SL, approximately equal to or slightly shorter than body depth; mouth terminal, with slightly distinct chin, its corner not reaching vertical through anterior margin of eye; eye small, its diameter 25-29% HL, smaller than snout length; lateral line incomplete, with 12-25 (commonly 16-21) perforated scales and 38-46+2-3 scales in lateral series (commonly 41-44 +2-3); 10-11 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal-fin origin; 3-4 scale rows between lateral line and the pelvic-fin origin; 8-11(rarely 13) gill rakers on the first branchial arch; and pharyngeal teeth 5-4, slightly serrated and hooked at tip (Ref. 96086).