Oman garra
| Garra barreimiae | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cypriniformes |
| Family: | Cyprinidae |
| Genus: | Garra |
| Species: | G. barreimiae |
| Binomial name | |
|
Garra barreimiae Fowler & Steinitz, 1956 |
|
Garra barreimiae, the Oman garra, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinidae. It is found in the mountains of northern Oman and in the United Arab Emirates. Most populations inhabit wadis, streams, pools and springs, but one population lives underground in caves, is known as Omani blind cave fish, and has lost its sight and pigmentation. The only other cave fish in Oman is the Tawi Atair garra (G. dunsirei), but it has normal eyes.
The Oman garra was first described in 1956 by the American zoologist Henry Weed Fowler and the Israeli zoologist Heinz Steinitz as Garra barreimiae. The following subspecies are recognised:
The blind cave form has been found to be genetically little different from the sighted form. The subspecies are generally limited to different watersheds.
Garra barreimiae is a small, slender fish, somewhat flattened on the underside. It grows to a length of about 7–8 cm (2.8–3.1 in). The head is wedge-shaped and has a suction plate on the lower jaw and a blunt snout. This fish is a fairly dark colour and is speckled; it has a paler transverse band just behind the head. An unpigmented form with fewer scales and no external eyes has been found living underground. Juveniles of this form are sighted at first, but as they get older, skin grows over their eyes.
This species is endemic to the mountainous eastern region of the United Arab Emirates and northern region of Oman. It is often the most common fish species in its range. In both countries it is present on the western side of the mountains and in Oman, it is also present on the east side. This fish typically lives in wadis, in gravel or rock pools, in springs, in small streams and in slow-moving water. It generally lives in freshwater with a near-neutral pH and temperatures from 18 to 24 °C (64–75 °F), but it tolerates up to about 40 °C (104 °F) and salinities up to one-third of seawater. The blind form is only known from the Hoti cave systems in the Al Hamra region of the Jebel Akhdar Mountains in Oman.
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Wikipedia