Garra tashanensis

Common name. Tashan cave garra.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Garra in Persian Gulf and endorheic basins in Iran by: ● lateral line on body reduced, visible pores absent / ○ eye reduced and invisible externally / ○ whitish or pink, without colour pattern / ○ body almost naked, few scales at pelvic base only / ○ 9+8 branched caudal rays / ○ 7½ branched dorsal rays / ○ rostral cap well developed, completely covering upper lip / ○ gular disc fully developed as long as wide / ○ two pairs of normally developed barbels. Size up to 35 mm SL.

Distribution . Iran: Tashan Cave at Sarjusher and Tang-e Ban spring in Jarahi drainage.

Habitat. Underground waters.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range. Only two locations are known: Tashan cave and Tang-e Ban spring. Tashan cave spans approximately 900 m in length and reaches a depth of about 50 m. Tang-e Ban is a seasonal karstic spring that only flows during winter and spring, during which fish are washed from the cave to the surface.

Further reading. Mousavi-Sabet et al. 2016c (description).