|
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Diagnosis: Garra geba is distinguished from African congeners by the following combination of features: intermediate disc development, depressed head and gracile body; between 5 and 9 predorsal scales anterior to dorsal fin; asquamate chest, belly, and postpelvic region; posterior chamber of gas bladder small; and intestine short (Ref. 58532).
Description: Garra geba is extremely gracile and elongate, greatest body depth located well anterior to dorsal fin, midway between dorsal-fin origin and snout (Ref. 58532). Head gracile and depressed, often with small circular tubercles in front of nostrils, becoming tubular beneath eyes; eyes positioned medially on head (Ref. 58532). Dorsal head profile rises steeply over snout, dorsum of head more-or-less flattened, dorsal body profile smoothly convex to dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 58532). Disc variously developed; only weekly so in smaller specimens, becoming quite well-developed with a narrow free posterior edge and partially free lateral margins in adult specimens, but never broadly papillate; disc in adults markedly wider than deep; rostral cap well developed, extending ventrally over upper jaw and with invecked ventral margin (Ref. 58532). Two pairs of barbels; maxillary barbels usually slightly longer than rostral pair (Ref. 58532). Between 37 and 39 scales along lateral line; between 5 and 9 predorsal scales anterior to dorsal fin; 2.5-3.5 scales from lateral line to origin of pelvic fin; 4.5-5.5 scales from lateral line to dorsal-fin origin; chest, belly and postpelvic region asquamate (Ref. 58532). Dorsal fin with iv,7 rays, inserted well anterior to pelvic fin, with short subacuminate tip, first and second unbranched rays longest; anal fin with iv,5 rays, with short subacuminate tip; pectoral fin with iv,11 rays, its length 19.1-22.6% of standard length, with somewhat pointed tips (Ref. 58532). Predorsal length 46.9-50.0% of standard length (Ref. 58532). Vent located relatively distant from anal fin (Ref. 58532).
Colouration: Body dark dorsally, lighter brown below lateral line and ventrally (Ref. 58532). Head, snout and most of cheek and opercle dark brown; lips, gular region, posterior margin of opercle and branchiostegal membranes creamy yellow-brown; pale coloration extends postero-dorsally around eye (Ref. 58532). Dorsal-fin membrane pale cream distally, faint submarginal band of black pigment in membrane between rays, and pale cream proximally; either 4 or 5 black spots between rays in basal membrane of dorsal fin; anal fin uniformly pale creamy brown; caudal fin pale dusky brown, with median rays a darker brown; pelvic and pectoral fins uniformly pale creamy brown (Ref. 58532). |
