Home · Cyprinidae · Blanford's garra
Blanford's garra (Garra blanfordii) — Cyprinidae

Blanford's garra

Garra blanfordii
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Blanford's garra (Garra blanfordii) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 9 cm.

Length
9.2 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Near East
Edibility
Not eaten

Want the complete picture on the Blanford's garra?

Get the app

Description

Blanford's garra is a small cyprinid from fresh water of the Near East and adjacent Asia, including Iran and Oman. The species grows to about 9 cm and has an elongate body with a flattened underside and a sucker-disc lower lip with which it clings to stones in flowing water. With this disc it rasps algae and aufwuchs from rocks in streams and mountain rivers. The fish is harmless to humans. The IUCN assesses the species as Least Concern (LC).

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Blanford's garra?

The Blanford's garra has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Sucker-disc-shaped lower lip to suck itself fast; algae-rasping stream barb

Where does the Blanford's garra live?

The Blanford's garra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Near East

How big does the Blanford's garra get?

The Blanford's garra grows to a maximum of about 9 cm.

Is the Blanford's garra dangerous to humans?

No, the Blanford's garra is harmless to humans. This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status.

Is the Blanford's garra edible?

The Blanford's garra is not usually eaten.

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blanford's garra?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blanford's garra is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →

All data

Identification

English name
Blanford's garra verified
Scientific name
Garra blanfordii
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
9.2 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
Brown sourced
Pattern
Plain sourced
Tail shape
Forked inferred
Mouth position
Inferior (downward) sourced
Lips
Thick / fleshy sourced
Barbels
Yes sourced
Dorsal fins
One continuous sourced
Dorsal spines
No sourced

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Near East verified
Origin
Native verified

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae and biofilm from rocks inferred
Social behaviour
Small groups sourced
Territorial
No sourced
Activity
Diurnal sourced
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No sourced
Seasonality
Current-loving sucker barbel; present year-round. sourced
Special features
Sucker-disc-shaped lower lip to suck itself fast; algae-rasping stream barb sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Not eaten sourced
Fishing method
Not a target species for angling; at most an incidental catch or usable as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
This species is harmless to humans. No specific first aid is needed. Still handle the fish with care: mind the fin rays and the sharp edges of the gill cover, and rinse any scratch with clean water and cover it. For a dirty or deep wound check tetanus status. verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Garra

More from the family Cyprinidae

Fin

Want the complete picture on the Blanford's garra?

Point your camera at the fish and Fin names the species in seconds. Free, and the Blanford's garra is one of 12,519 species in the app.

Get the app →
Is this the Blanford's garra? Get the app