Garra turcica

Common name. Cilician garra.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Garra in Central Anatolia, Mediterranean, and Dead Sea basins by: ○ two pairs of normally developed barbels / ○ gular disc fully developed / ○ tubercles absent on upper posterior eye margin / ○ 33−37 total lateral-line scales / ○ 8½ branched dorsal rays / ○ snout blunt / ○ body depth at dorsal origin 18–21 % SL / ○ chest and belly scaled / ○ mid-dorsal area in front of dorsal origin covered by scales / ○ dark-grey blotch at posterior caudal peduncle present. Size up to 115 mm SL.

Distribution . Türkiye: Seyhan and Ceyhan drainages and small rivers south to Arsuz. Introduced to Ilıca in Manavgat, also to the Sultan Marshes via Zamantı Tunnel.

Habitat. Streams and rivers with rocks or gravel bottoms.

Biology. No data.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Molecular studies demonstrate that the majority of producers claiming to supply G. rufa to fish spas in Antalya (Türkiye) are in fact supplying G. turcica .

Further reading. Karaman 1971 (description); Kara et al. 2010: (morphology, distribution); Hashemzadeh Segherloo et al. 2016a (molecular phylogeny).