9. Garra sindhae Lyon, Geiger & Freyhof, 2016, Endemic

Fig. 26

Etymology: Garra: named based on a vernacular Indian name, a fish living in mud; sindhae: named after Cynthia “Sindhi” Diane Powell for her support to the first author (Robert Gary Lyon).

Common name: Wadi Andhur Garra.

Taxonomy: Garra sindhi was described by Lyon [R. G.], Geiger [M. F.] & Freyhof [J.] 2016:80, figs. 2-5 [Zootaxa 4154 (no. 1] from Wadi Andhur, Dhofar province, Oman, 17°34’6.956”N, 54°42’17.518”E. The species name was dedicated to a woman, so there is a mandatory change to Garra sindhae (Fricke et al. 2022).

Holotype: ONHM 4196. Paratypes: FSJF, ONHM.

Short description: Dorsal fin with I, 7½ rays, last simple ray slightly shorter than or equally long as head length; distal margin concave; origin at middle between snout tip and last scale on caudal-fin base; inserted anterior to vertical from pelvic-fin origin; first branched ray longest, tip of last branched ray reaching vertical of anus. Pectoral fin with I, 12 rays, reaching midway or slightly beyond distance between pectoral- and pelvic-fin origin, length shorter than head length. Pelvic fin with I, 7–8 rays, reaching to, or slightly in front of anus, origin closer to anal-fin origin than to pectoral-fin origin, inserted below second or fourth branched dorsal-fin ray. Anal fin short, with III, 5½ rays; first branched ray longest, reaching to dark grey or black blotch on posterior caudal peduncle or slightly anterior to it; distal margin concave; origin almost in middle between caudal-fin base and pelvic-fin origin. Two scales between anus and anal-fin origin. Caudal fin forked; with 9+8 branched rays; tip of lobes pointed; upper lobe longer than lower lobe. Garra sindhae is differentiated from other Garra species in the region by mental disc wider then long, 7½ branched dorsal-fin rays, dorsal fin hyaline or pale brown with black spots at bases of branched rays, 36 total lateral scales, 14–16 circumpeduncular scales, breast and belly behind pectoral-fin origin fully covered by deeply embedded scales, 8–12 gill rakers on lower limp of first gill arch.

Distribution: Wadi Andhur, Dhofar region, Oman (Fig. 27).

Examined material: Based on holotype and paratypes (see Lyon et al. 2016).