Garra buettikeri

Common name. Asir garra.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Garra in Saudi Arabia, Yemen, and Dhofar (Oman) by: ● 36−39 total lateral-line scales / ● 20, very rarely 18 circumpeduncular scales / ○ 7½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 10−14 gill rakers on lower limb of first gill arch / ○ dorsal hyaline or pale-brown with black spots at bases of branched rays / ○ groove between tip of snout and nostrils shallow or absent. Size up to 180 mm SL, likely to grow larger.

Distribution. Saudi Arabia: Wadis of Asir Mountains that drain inland toward Wadi ad-Dawasir, such as Wadi Turabah, between 1400−2400 m above sea level.

Habitat. Wide variety of habitats, in fast-flowing to almost stagnant water over bare rock or soft sediment with gravel.

Biology. Feeds mainly on periphyton but opportunistically also on other food items.

Conservation status. VU; known from fewer than 10 populations, and habitat is declining due to multiple threats, including water abstraction and climate change.

Remarks. In Abala (2390 m), fish have 6–8 rakers on the lower limb of first gill arch and may represent an own species. Garra buettikeri is closely related to G. tibanica from western Arabia and G. dunsirei, G. smartae, and G. sindhae from Oman.

Further reading. Krupp 1983 (description); Hamidan et al. 2014 (phylogeny); Lyon et al. 2016 (phylogeny); Freyhof et al. 2020 (distribution, identification).