Diagnosed from other species of Barbus and Luciobarbus in Iberian Peninsula by having the following combination of characters: last simple dorsal ray moderately spinous, serrated posteriorly only along about half of its length in adults, serrae small, rarely absent; posterior edge of dorsal fin slightly concave, upper part of posterior edge at an angle to dorsal profile when fin is stretched; lower lip without median lobe or pad; tip of lower jaw exposed, not covered by lower lip; head length 25-28% SL; and lateral line with 44-49 + 3 scales (Ref. 59043).