Alburnoides tabarestanensis is distinguished from all congeners in Iran by a combination of the following non-unique characters: completely scaleless ventral keel (most common); lack of well-marked spots or dark pigmentation in the lateral line canal; terminal mouth with the tip of the mouth cleft between level of middle of pupil and lower margin of pupil; 47-52 lateral line scales to posterior margin of hypurals; typically 9 or 10 scale rows between lateral line and dorsal fin origin; 2.5-4.2 pharyngeal teeth; usually 4 or 5 scale rows between lateral line and anal fin origin; commonly 16-18 scales around caudal peduncle; typically 39-41 total vertebrae; usually 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays; commonly 12½ or 13½ branched anal fin rays; usually 7 branched pelvic fin rays; commonly 11-13 branched pectoral fin rays; usually 8 or 9 gill rakers in the outer row on first left arch (Ref. 106248).