Distinguishable from the other north-eastern Atlantic and Mediterranean Gobius species by: (1) row g reaching lateral end of row o, (2) row o variably related to fellow in dorsal midline, usually connected or overlapping, but sometimes separate (in fig.4), (3) body and head with orange spots and blotches, body spots and blotches clearly visible even in preserved specimens, after loss of orange coloration, and (4) first dorsal fin with black blotch in upper posterior corner, remaining also in preserved specimens. It further differs from G. cruentatus in (1) absence of cheek scales, and (2) shorter row x, not reaching pore ß anteriorly. G. kolombatovici also differs by a higher number of scales in lateral series (Ref. 37044).