The maximum body length is 11 cm, weight up to 3 g. Life expectancy up to 4-5 years. The body is relatively low, slightly compressed laterally. The dorsal fin is located in the middle of the body. The distance from the end of the snout to the beginning of the base of the dorsal fin is equal to the distance from the end of the base of the dorsal fin to the beginning of the caudal fin. Caudal stem elongated, slightly compressed laterally. Scales on the back are rather rough, in adults with convex longitudinal epithelial carinae.
Distribution of species: Don basin.
Biology is almost unstudied. Freshwater river bottom fish that lives in rivers of the flat type. It keeps in shallow areas with slightly silted sandy, clayey, less often sandy-pebbled bottom. Usually held at depths of 1.0-1.5 m. Reproduction from May to early July. Portion spawning. It feeds on benthos and small algae.