Can be diagnosed from other species of Aphanius, Valenciidae and Fundulidae in Europe by having the following characters: males have pale yellow to yellow-orange caudal fin, in some populations with a wide dark submarginal bar, 8-15 dark blue to grey bars on a silvery background, bars usually regularly shaped and set; females possess 11-17 short dark brown bars on sides, over a faint greyish midlateral stripe, 24-29 scales in midlateral series on body, and pectoral fin with 14-15 rays (Ref. 59043).