|
Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 9-9. Diagnosis: Garra blanfordii is unique among African Garra in a uniformly either cream or pale yellow-brown coloration and with the absence of distinct markings on head, body or fins (Ref. 58532). It is further distinguished from African congeners by the following combination of features: well developed disc; either smooth, or only very weakly incised ventral margin to rostral cap; fully scaled predorsal region; asquamate chest, belly and postpelvic region; and relatively large gas bladder (Ref. 58532).
Description: Relatively robust and deep-bodied, greatest body depth well in advance of dorsal-fin origin, at level of pectoral-fin tips (Ref. 58532). Head small, snout blunt, and without tubercles; eyes positioned anteriorly on head (Ref. 58532). Dorsal head profile rises steeply over snout, then rises more-or-less smoothly convex and contiguously with dorsal body profile to dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 58532). Disc development, somewhat variable, usually well-developed, with abundant papillae on lower lip and around disc periphery; disc papillation reduced in some specimens, but wide free posterior and lateral margins always present; rostral cap well-developed, extending ventrally over upper jaw; ventral margin smooth, occasionally very weakly incised (Ref. 58532). Two small pairs of barbels; rostral barbels usually slightly longer than maxillary pair (Ref. 58532). Between 34 and 38 scales along lateral line; predorsal region fully scaled to dorsal fin, scales often deeply embedded; 3.5 scales from lateral line to origin of pelvic fin; 4-4.5 scales from lateral line to dorsal-fin origin; chest, belly and postpelvic regions asquamate; region between vent and anal fin also asquamate (Ref. 58532). Dorsal fin with iv,7 rays, inserted well anterior to pelvic fin, with short rounded tip, first and second unbranched rays longest; anal fin with iv,5 rays; pectoral fin with v,11 rays (Ref. 58532).
Colouration: Noteworthy in lacking all dark pigmentation and markings on head, body and fins (Ref. 58532). Head and body more-or-less uniformly either cream or pale yellow-brown, a few individuals with some slight lightening ventrally (Ref. 58532). Dorsal fin pale hyaline, with no black spots in basal membranes; all other fins similarly uniformly pale hyaline with no markings (Ref. 58532). |