Garra amirhosseini

Common name. Ilam garra.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Garra in Persian Gulf and Iranian endorheic basins by: ○ chest and belly with very small, deeply embedded scales / ○ 17–19 scales on predorsal midline, often deeply embedded / ○ usually 7½ branched dorsal rays / ○ 9+8 branched caudal rays / ○ usually 2 scales between anus and anal origin / ○ 16–20 total gill rakers on first branchial arch / ○ 33–36 total scales along lateral line / ○ two pairs of normally developed barbels / ○ gular disc present / ○ lateral and distal margin of labrum of gular disc free from skin of chin / ○ body brown or grey, usually mottled / ○ eye fully developed. Size up to 105 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Sartang-e-Bijar sulfuric spring at Mehran, Meymeh, Godar khosh, Konjan cham, Zeynegan, and Kangir in Tigris drainage.

Habitat. Springs and spring-fed streams.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. VU; known from less than 10 populations, and habitats are declining due to multiple threats, including water abstraction and climate change.

Remarks. Occurs in sympatry with G. rufa . Garra amirhosseini has COI DNA sequences very similar to G. elegans, while both species are clearly separated by morphological characters.

Further reading. Esmaeili et al. 2016c (description, molecular phylogeny).