Garra rakhinica

Overview

Garra rakhinica is a small fish from the western Rakhine Yoma of Myanmar. A largely gray body and tail, a spot behind the upper gill-cover margin, and white tail-lobe tips characterize its understated appearance. Snout and scale details are also needed for identification.

Distribution & habitat

The only known locality is Yan Khaw Chaung in the Thade drainage, flowing from the mountain range's western slope toward the Bay of Bengal.

In March 1998 the forest river had contracted into linked remnant pools about 2 m wide and up to 1 m deep. Water was clear and still or slow-moving over gravel, pebbles, and larger stones, without observed aquatic vegetation. These describe that dry-season visit rather than a fixed year-round state.

Notes

The rounded snout has a shallow groove and rostral lobes but no pronounced proboscis. Two barbel pairs, scaled predorsal and ventral regions, roughly 28 lateral-line scales, and sixteen rows around the tail base contribute to identification. A dark patch lies near the lower tail-lobe tip, beyond which the tip is white; the upper tip is white as well.

Among similar Garra, gray coloration or an adhesive mouth alone is insufficient. Collection locality and the tail-tip pattern supply additional clues.