Description

Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 10; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7 - 8; Vertebrae: 34 - 36. Diagnosis: Garra napata differs from all other African Garra species, except G. jamila and G. ethelwynnae, in a scaleless area on the dorsal body area clearly exceeding beyond dorsal fin origin and thus in an incomplete count of only 1 to 2.5 scale rows between the origin of the dorsal fin and lateral line series vs. 3 or more (Ref. 122047). It is distinguished from G. ethelwynnae from the Damas River basin in Eritrea by: its intermediate, type B, developed disc and only minute free posterior flap vs. prominent disc of type C with well-developed posterior flap; and an asquamate postpelvic area vs. squamate (Ref. 122047). It is distinguished from G. jamila of the Atbara by: its intermediate type B developed disc with a very small free posterior flap vs. prominent disc type C with well-developed posterior flap; a smoother upper lip vs. crenate; and, in live specimens, an uncoloured anal fin vs. red anal fin; dark humeral spot large and nearly twice as big as red postopercular spot vs. equally sized small humeral and postopercular spots; fixed specimens usually display a pronounced lateral band and pale back vs. dark back strongly and contrasting light belly (Ref. 122047). It is distinguished from Garra vinciguerrae and G. sannarensis by: its narrow disc, width much smaller than mouth vs. as large as mouth width; virtually absent lateroposterior flap of the disc vs. clearly developed; and a relatively broad head, i.e. cheeks visible when viewed from dorsal vs. cheeks not visible; from G. vinciguerrae by its prominent dark colour markings in the centre of the dorsal-fin membrane near its base vs. no such pattern; from G. sp. "White Nile" by its visible cheeks when viewed from dorsal vs. not visible from above, and by its short barbels barely reaching margin of lower-lip pad vs. almost reaching each other (Ref. 122047).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Genus: Garra

Species: Garra napata Moritz, Straube & Neumann, 2019

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Rheophilic and collected from swift water in strong current, likely prefers habitats with high velocity; occurs syntopically with other rheophilic species like Garra vinciguerrae, Chiloglanis niloticus, Andersonia leptura and Labeo forskalii (Ref. 122047).

Habitat

benthopelagic