Description

This species is distinguished from its congeners of the Garra variabilis species-group by the following set of characters, none of which are unique to the species: differs from G. variabilis by having two pairs of barbels (vs. one), scales on the predorsal midline between the dorsal-fin origin and the nape 15-19 (vs. 11-15), and total gill rakers on the first gill arch 11-16 (vs. 20-26); differs from G. kemali and G. klatti from Central Anatolia by having a mental disc (vs. absent), and barbels two pairs (vs. none); differs from G. nudiventris, G. roseae, G. rossica by having two pairs of barbels (vs. none in G. roseae; one pair in G.nudiventris and most populations of G. rossica, two pairs in some of G. rossica), a well-developed mental disc (vs. reduced in G. rossica), predorsal mid-line fully covered by scales (vs. naked in G.nudiventris), belly covered by scales (vs. naked in G.nudiventris); differs from G. roseae by having scales on the lateral line 35-40 (vs. 42-58), transverse scale rows between the lateral line and the dorsal-fin origin 5½-6½ (vs. 7½-8½), transverse scale rows between the lateral line and the pelvic-fin origin 4½-5½ (vs. 6½), axillary scale at the pelvic-fin origin present (vs. absent) (Ref. 128981).

Common Names

No common names available.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: Animalia

Phylum: Chordata

Class: Teleostei

Order: Cypriniformes

Family: Cyprinidae

Genus: Garra

Species: Garra rezai Mousavi-Sabet, Eagderi, Saemi-Komsari, Kaya & Freyhof, 2022

Climate Zone

Location

Biology

Found in April 2016 in a spring in Boein-e-Olia (Iran), which was about 2-3 meters wide, the outflowing stream had a low velocity and the bed was covered by gravel. When the place was revisited in June 2021, the species could not be found anymore in the spring, but specimens were collected from the stream Boein-e-Sofla (which is fed by the spring). At the type locality (Boein-e-Olia spring and Boein-e-Sofla stream), the species was not found, but G. rufa is widespread in the Lesser Zab drainage, including the Chooman River drainage. In Turkey, all three sampling sites were shallow, with clear and swiftly flowing water and cobbles and pebbles substrate. Among the three sampling sites, Çıratan was visited several times during different seasons and this species is abundant in its Turkish distribution area. This stream hosts several regionally endemic species, such as Turcinoemacheilus kosswigi. Paracobitis zabgawraensis, Glyptothorax daemon, and G. kurdistanicus (Ref. 124212). In Çıratan, two adult individuals of G. rufa were found, one half-grown individual in the stream Büyük, both were syntopic with G. rezai (Ref. 128981).

Habitat

benthopelagic