This species is distinguished from other European gobies by the following characters: body of juveniles with small, non-overlapping scales with long lateral ctenii; naked in adults; no chin barbel; 2 broad dark bars around the body, one below first dorsal, the ventral part of second bar wider that its middle part; no cephalic lateral line canals; second dorsal with 11-13.5 branched rays; caudal peduncle 1.0-1.5 times longer than deep (Ref. 59043).