Back and flanks dar k, below later al linelight. Medial fin membranes dark. Young fish may havea mid-lateral stripe as wide as the eye diameter. Peritoneumdark brown to black. Scales regularly arrangedover whole body and enlarged around anus and anal finbase. Pelvic axillary scale present. Scales oval and witha subcentral anterior focus, and numerous radii. Gillrakers short and touching the raker below when appressed.Mouth horseshoe-shaped. Last unbrancheddorsal fin ray weak, with only a few fine denticles alongbasal half. Pharyngeal teeth very spatulated up to the tipbut thick. Gut very elongate with several anterior andposterior loops. Males with large tubercles in breedingseason. A widely distributed species in a wide range ofdesert habitats. In rivers, springs and qanats. Maximumage 6 years, total length 215 mm and weight 90 g. Sexratio 1male:2.4females. Reproduction in March-August.Absolute fecundity up to 22,800 eggs with a diameterof up to 2 mm. Food include plants, seeds and filamentousalgae.