Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cypriniformes (Carps) >
Cyprinidae (Minnows or carps) > Labeoninae
Etymology: Garra: Name based on a vernacular Indian name (Hamilton, 1822:343, Ref. 1813); a fish living in mud (Ref. 128817).
More on author: Rüppell.
Issue
There has been confusion between G. dembeensis, G. johnstonii and G. hindii. G. johnstonii is a junior synonym of G. dembeensis, but G. hindii differs in having a fully scaled predorsum, belly and chest; it does, however, share two important meristic and morphometric features with G. dembeensis: high number of scales in lateral line and vent located away from anal fin (Ref. 81639).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Tropical; 22°C - 26°C (Ref. 2059)
Africa: widespread with presence in East Africa, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya and Tanzania, as well as in Cameroon, Nigeria and Tchad (Ref. 2801, 2940, 58532, 81282, 81639). Presence in the Congo basin (Ref. 11970, 41590, 41594, 106290, 120641) not confirmed in Ref. 58532.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 11.0 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 4967)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 10 - 11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 9. Diagnosis: Garra dembeensis is distinguished from African congeners by the following combination of features: well-developed disc; between 0 and 4 predorsal scales anterior to dorsal fin; asquamate chest, belly and postpelvic region; intestine of medium length; ad moderately sized gas bladder (Ref. 58532).
Commonly found in rapid parts of rivers and also on wave-washed rocky shores of Lake Victoria (Ref. 4903). Adheres to stones in swift water (Ref. 28714). Feeds on epilithic algae and lithophilic insects (Ref. 12526), scraped from the surface of rocks (Ref. 4903).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lévêque, C., 1990. Cyprinidae. p. 269-361. In C. Lévêque, D. Paugy and G.G. Teugels (eds.) Faune des poissons d'eaux douces et saumâtres d'Afrique de l'Ouest. Tome I. Coll. Faune Tropicale n° XXVIII. Musée Royal de l'Afrique Centrale, Tervuren, and O.R.S.T.O.M., Paris, 384 p. (Ref. 2940)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00776 (0.00354 - 0.01702), b=3.04 (2.87 - 3.21), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this Genus-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.0 ±0.00 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
