Soiffe

Parachondrostoma toxostoma has its dorsal fin supported by 3 spines and between 7 and 9 soft rays while its anal fin is supported by 3 spines and between 8 and 11 soft rays. The caudal fin has 17 to 19 fin rays. The body is elongated, and this fish has a maximum total length of 30 cm (12 in) with a maximum published weight of 350 g (12 oz).

Parachondrostoma toxostoma is found in the Garonne, Dordogne and Adour drainage basins in France and in the rivers daring into the Mediterranean in France and Switzerland from the Berre to the Rhône. It has also been introduced into the Loire river system but it is currently restricted to Haute-Loire, here it is claimed the common nase (Chondrostoma nasus), another introduced species, is competing with the French nase. This species prefers streches of rivers and streams with a current and with rocky or stony substrates, it will enter reservoirs and canals too.

Parachondrostoma toxostoma belongs to the genus Parachondrostoma, this name places the prefix para-, meaning "near to" or "similar to" in front of the genus name Chondrostoma, which is a combination of chondros, a word meaning "gristle" or "cartilage", with stoma, meaning "mouth". This is an allusion to the horny plates in the mouths of the fishes in Chondrostoma. The specific name, toxostoma, combines toxon, meaning "bow", with stoma, which means "mouth", a reference to the arched shape of the mouth.