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Dembecha garra (Garra dembecha) — Cyprinidae

Dembecha garra

Garra dembecha
Family: Cyprinidae
LC · Least Concern

The Dembecha garra (Garra dembecha) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 13 cm.

Length
13 cm
Water
Freshwater
Diet
Herbivore
Behaviour
Small groups
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Mixed bottom
Danger
Harmless
Range
Highlands of Ethiopia; clear mountain streams and rivers.
Edibility
Rarely eaten

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Description

The Dembecha garra is a cyprinid (Cyprinidae) from the highlands of Ethiopia. The species has an elongate body and, like other garras, a fleshy sucking disc on the lower lip with which it can attach to stones in fast-flowing water. It inhabits clear mountain streams and rivers with a rocky bottom. With its inferior, rasping mouth it scrapes the growth layer of algae, diatoms and small invertebrates from stones. The species is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Dembecha garra?

The Dembecha garra has an elongate, eel-like body, is mainly brown and shows a plain pattern. Fleshy sucking disc on the lower lip to attach itself to stones in fast-flowing water.

Where does the Dembecha garra live?

The Dembecha garra lives in fresh water and is mostly found around mixed bottom. Highlands of Ethiopia; clear mountain streams and rivers.

How big does the Dembecha garra get?

The Dembecha garra grows to a maximum of about 13 cm.

Is the Dembecha garra dangerous to humans?

No, the Dembecha garra is harmless to humans. None required: this species is harmless to humans.

Is the Dembecha garra edible?

The Dembecha garra is rarely eaten.

More photos

Dembecha garra (Garra dembecha) — Cyprinidae — 2
iNaturalist ((c) Gina Walsh, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC))
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All data

Identification

English name
Dembecha garra sourced
Scientific name
Garra dembecha
Family
Cyprinidae

Appearance

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

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Mixed bottom sourced
Natural range
Highlands of Ethiopia; clear mountain streams and rivers. inferred
Origin
Native sourced

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Herbivore sourced
Diet (detail)
Algae, diatoms and small invertebrates from stones sourced
Social behaviour
Small groups inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes sourced
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred
Seasonality
Present year-round in its habitat; no pronounced seasonality known. inferred
Special features
Fleshy sucking disc on the lower lip to attach itself to stones in fast-flowing water. sourced

For anglers

Edibility
Rarely eaten sourced
Fishing method
Small in size and barely an angling target; mostly caught incidentally or as baitfish. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless sourced
First aid
None required: this species is harmless to humans. sourced

Status & sources

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

Same genus Garra

More from the family Cyprinidae

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