Garra orontesi, Bayçelebi & Kaya & Turan & Freyhof, 2021

Bayçelebi, Esra, Kaya, Cüneyt, Turan, Davut & Freyhof, Jörg, 2021, Garra orontesi, a new species from the Orontes River drainage (Teleostei: Cyprinidae), Zootaxa 4952 (1), pp. 169-180 : 171-178

Garra orontesi , new species

( Figs 1–5 )

urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:336D8DAD-9366-4937-B7CB-E5CF3DC2F61A

Holotype. FFR 4034, 111 mm SL; Turkey, Gaziantep prov.: stream Karasu below Tahtaköprü dam, 36.8520N 36.6861E.

Paratypes. FFR 4010, 46, 47–115 mm SL; same data as holotype . — FFR 1262 , 12 , 47–117 mm SL; Turkey, Hatay prov.: stream Afrin at Reyhanlı , 36.29604N 36.5552E . — FFR 1265 , 14 , 85–107 mm SL; Turkey, Antakya prov.: a tributary of Orontes River at Samandağ , 36.1003N 36.0103E . — FFR 1301 , 6 , 78–97 mm SL; Turkey, Hatay prov.: stream Söğütlü at Kırıkhan 36.4655N 36.3780E . — FFR 1317 , 9 , 67–86 mm SL; Turkey, Hatay prov.: stream Büyükkara at Samandağ , 36.1367N 36.0409E . — FFR 4007 , 48 , 32–100 mm SL; Turkey, Hatay prov.: stream Serinyol at Samandağ , 36.3655N 36.2138E . — FFR 4013 , 10 , 35–74 mm SL; Turkey, Kilis prov.: stream Afrin at Afrin 36.8061N 36.9821E . — FFR 4016 , 9 , 40–87 mm SL; Turkey, Hatay prov.: stream Söğütlü at Kırıkhan 36.6117N 36.4404E . — FSJF 2302 , 10 , 38–78 mm SL; Turkey: Hatay prov: stream Büyükkara at Karaçay , 36.1355N 36.0422E . — FSJF 2335 , 18 , 31–83 mm SL; Turkey: Gaziantep prov.: stream Karasu below Tahtaköprü dam, 36.8520N 36.6861E . — FSJF 2414 , 2 , 55–117 mm SL; Turkey: Hatay prov.: Orontes River at Sinanlı , 36.0974N 36.0785E . — FSJF 2415 , 11 , 41–83 mm SL; Turkey: Hatay prov.: stream Yıldırım at Serinyol , 36.3662N 36.1811E . — FSJF 2449 , 3 , 71– 90 mm SL; Turkey: Hatay prov.: stream Karasu at Kumlu , 36.4653N 36.3803E . — FSJF 2663 , 5 , 56–94 mm SL; Syria: spring south of Qala’at al Jarras , 35.3303N 36.3106E . — FSJF 2667 , 10 , 61–103 mm SL; Syria: Lake Shadha , 35.5253N 36.2536E . — FSJF 2671 , 7 , 31–102 mm SL; Syria: Orontes north of Ain al Zarqa , 35.9444N 36.4025E . — FSJF 2684 , 5 , 59–74mm SL; Syria: Orontes River at Mashr’a al Bouz , 35.9508N 36.3958E . — FSJF 2695 , 18 , 58–106 mm SL; Syria: Orontes River at Jinan , 35.0764N 36.8431E . — FSJF 2699 , 4 , 104– 117 mm SL; Syria: Lake Qattinah south-east of Homs, 34.6619N 36.6183E .

Additional Records. Turkey, Hatay prov.: stream Hanne at Hatay, 36.2072N 36.1236E . — Turkey, Gaziantep prov.: stream Karasu at below Tahtaköprü dam, 36.8455N 36.6841E .

Diagnosis. Garra orontesi is distinguished from G. rufa by having the pelvic-fin origin below the second (rarely third) branched dorsal-fin ray (vs. third, rarely fourth), and a shorter predorsal length 45–49% SL (vs. 48–51).

It is distinguished from G. jordanica by having 17–21 gill rakers on lower part of first gill arch (vs. 12–17), a wider head (maximum head width 73–82% HL vs. 64–72), and 2–3, rarely 4 scales between tip of pectoral fin and pelvic-fin origin (vs. 5–6, rarely 4). In two juvenile G. orontesi (out of 50 individuals examined) and in one large male G. jordanica (out of 40 individuals examined), we found 4 scales between the tip of pectoral fin and pelvic-fin origin.

Garra orontesi is distinguished from G. turcica by having a slightly pointed snout (vs. blunt), a deeper body (body depth at dorsal-fin origin 21–26% SL vs. 18–21) and caudal peduncle (depth of caudal peduncle 13–14% SL vs. 12–13).

Garra orontesi is distinguished from G. ghorensis by having usually 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays (vs. 7½), 35–38 lateral line scales (vs. 32–34), and no tubercles on upper posterior eye margin (vs. present). It is distinguished from species of the G. rufa group in Iran by having scales on the breast and predorsal midline (vs. naked in G. mondica ), usually 8½ branched dorsal-fin rays (vs. 7½ in G. amirhosseini , G. mondica , and G. meymehensis ), 9+8 branched caudal-fin rays (vs. 8+ 8 in G. persica ), 35–38 total lateral line scales (vs. 30–33 in G. tiam ) and 14–16 circumpeduncular scales (vs. 12–13). The new species is distinguished from subterranean G. lorestanensis , G. tashanensis , G. typhlops , and G. widdowsoni by having a fully developed eye and a grey or brown background colour (vs. absence). Garra orontesi is distinguished from Garra variabilis by having two pairs of barbels (vs. one) and from all other Garra species in the Mediterranean basin ( G. caudomaculata , G. culiciphaga , G. festai , G. kemali , G. klatti , G. nana , G. sauvagei ) by having a well-developed gular disc (vs. absent).

Description. For general appearance, see Figs. 1–5 and Table 1 for morphometric data. Body elongate, moderately compressed laterally, more compressed in region of caudal peduncle. Dorsal head profile rising gently, slightly convex, slightly continuous with dorsal body profile to nape or about middle between nape and dorsal-fin origin, almost straight until dorsal-fin origin. Ventral profile nearly straight to anal-fin origin. Head moderately large and depressed, with slightly convex or flat interorbital distance; height at nape less than HL; width at nape greater than depth. Snout blunt, with transverse lobe, with numerous small- or medium-sized tubercles. Proboscis covered with small or medium-sized tubercles. Proboscis not or only slightly elevated from depressed rostral surface. Lateral surface of snout covered by small to medium sized tubercles reaching to anterior eye margin. Fewer tubercles in juveniles and no tubercles in few juveniles and adults. Size of the tubercles variable. Eye placed dorso-laterally in posterior half of head. Two pairs barbel, rostral barbel antero-laterally located, shorter than eye diameter; maxillary barbel at corner of mouth, longer than rostral barbel. Rostral cap developed, fimbriate, papillate on ventral surface, its length 10–12% (mean 10.0%) of lateral HL. Upper jaw generally covered by rostral cap except in some individuals. Torus slightly squarish, rarely round, labella and labrum entirely covered by small papillae. The gular grooves moderately distinct. Gular disc elliptical or slightly squarish, shorter than wide.

Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 7½ (2) and 8½ (18) branched rays, last simple ray slightly shorter than head length; distal margin concave; origin closer to snout tip than to caudal-fin base; first or second branched ray longest, tip of last branched ray reaching vertical to anus or behind. Pectoral fin with 13–16 [13 (1), 14 (3), 15 (11) and 16 (5)] rays, reaching to a point 2–4 (mode 3) scales anterior to pelvic-fin origin, length almost equally or longer than head length. Pelvic fin with 8 (2) and 9 (18) rays, reaching to, or beyond anus, not reaching anal-fin base, origin closer to anal-fin origin than to pectoral-fin origin, inserts below third or fourth branched dorsal-fin ray. Anal fin short, with 3 simple and 5½ (20) branched rays; first or second branched ray longest, almost reaching to dark grey or black blotch on posterior caudal peduncle or rarely anterior to it; distal margin concave; origin closer to caudal-fin base than to pelvic-fin origin. Anus 2–4 scales in front of anal-fin origin. Caudal fin forked; tip of lobes pointed.

A total of 17–21 gill rakers on lower limb of first branchial arch. Lateral line complete, 35–38 [35 (4), 36 (11), 37 (4) and 38 (1)] total lateral line scales; 33–36 1+2. Transverse scale rows above lateral line 3½ (1), 4½ (18) and 5½ (1); between lateral line and pelvic-fin origin 3½ (19) and 4½ (1) and between lateral line and anal-fin origin 4½ (17) and 5½ (3). Circumpeduncular scale rows 14 (3), 15 (12) and 16 (5). Predorsal scales 9 (1), 10 (6), 11 (4), 12 (5) and 13 (4); scales regularly arranged, same size as flank scales. Chest and belly scaled, scales deeply embedded on chest, smaller than scales on belly. One long axillary scale at base of pelvic fin, and 5–8, usually 5, scales between the posterior-most pelvic-fin base and anus.

Colouration. In ethanol: Head, back and flank dark brown or dark grey. Single or groups of dark brown scales on flank. Mouth, chest and abdomen cream or yellowish. A large, squarish or oblong, black or dark brown blotch at posterior-most caudal peduncle, absent in some individuals. Lateral line pores cream whitish. Dorsal-fin rays and membranes grey. Base of last 4–6 branched dorsal-fin rays with a black spot or black in individuals larger than 50 mm SL, hyaline in others. Caudal fin grey, anal, pelvic and pectoral fins grey, rarely hyaline. An irregularly shaped black caudal-fin margin in some individuals.

In life: Single or groups of dark brown scales on flank, often organised in a very irregularly shaped stripe along lateral midline. Head brown, greenish or grey. Flank scales silvery, yellowish, greenish, greyish or brown; whitish or yellowish on ventral flank and belly. Some populations almost completely grey or silvery. Iris red. A blue blotch at anterior most lateral line reaching down to upper pectoral-fin base. Fins yellowish, brown or hyaline. Usually red caudal-fin membranes on lower lobe or up to middle of fin.

Etymology. The species is named for Orontes, a son-in-law of the Punjabi king Deriades. In the ancient Greek epic poem Dionysiaca, he was killed by Dionysus at the river later taking his name. A noun in genitive.

Distribution. Garra orontesi is widespread in the Orontes River drainage in Turkey and Syria. It is expected to be found in the headwaters of the Orontes in Lebanon also.

Remarks. Following Durna et al. (2010) and Hamidan et al. (2014), G. orontesi is most closely related to G. rufa from the Euphrates and Tigris. However, Hashemzadeh Segherloo et al. (2016) demonstrated that the phyogenetic relationships of several species and species groups within the G. rufa group are not well resolved. Garra orontesi and G. rufa are separated by 2.7% K2P distance in the studied COI gene region ( Hamidan et al. 2014) and it is distinguished by a minimum K2P distance of 3.9% from geographically adjacent G. turcica and 4.7% from adjacent G. jordanica . From 210 combinations of different Garra species ( Table 2 ) only eight are below a minimum K2P distance of 3.0%. These include well-distinguished species as G. rufa and G. persica (2.39%) and geographically widely disjunct species as G. mondica and G. turcica (2.21%). Only four combinations are below 2%: G. gallagheri vs. G. longipinnis : 1.99%, and the combinations between G. elegans , G. amirhosseini and G. mondica . As G. elegans is well distinguished by morphological characters from all other species of Garra in the Middle East ( Freyhof 2016), it is placed in the G. rufa group by mitochondrial and nuclear characters (Behrens- Chapuis et al. 2015). In this species, DNA introgression cannot be full excluded and we see no reason to treat G. mondica and G. amirhosseini as synonyms of G. elegans . However, further research is recommended to test, if the morphological characters distinguishing G. mondica and G. amirhosseini are confirmed in the future.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Garra orontesi, FFR 4034, holotype, 111 mm SL; Turkey: Karasu below Tahtaköprü dam.

FIGURE 2. Garra orontesi, FFR 4034, holotype, 111 mm SL; Turkey: Karasu below Tahtaköprü dam.

FIGURE 3. Garra orontesi, FFR 4010, paratypes, from the top, 105 mm SL; 89 mm SL; 72 mm SL; Turkey: Karasu below Tahtaköprü dam.

FIGURE 4. Garra orontesi, from the top, FSJF 2414, 117 mm SL; Turkey: Orontes at Sinanlı; FSJF 2449, 90 mm SL; Turkey: stream Karasu at Kumlu; FSJF 2663, 94 mm SL; Syria: spring south of Qala’at al Jarras; not preserved, ~90 mm SL; Turkey: stream Hanne.

FIGURE 5. Garra orontesi, paratypes, all from Turkey: upper row, from left: FFR 4010, 92 mm SL; 81 mm SL; Karasu below Tahtaköprü dam; FFR 4016, 83 mm SL; 93 mm SL; 82 mm SL; stream Söğütlü; FFR 4013, 71 mm SL; stream Söğütlü; FFR 1265, 107 mm SL; 98 mm SL; a tributary of Orontes River; FFR 1301, 91 mm SL; Turkey: stream Söğütlü.