Verlag Dr.

Friedrich Pfeil
ISSN 0936-9902
Excerpt from

Ichthyological Exploration
of Freshwaters
An international journal for field-orientated ichthyology

Volume 25
Number 4
This article may be used for research, teaching and private purposes.
Exchange with other researchers is allowed on request only.
Any substantial or systematic reproduction, re-distribution, re-selling
in any form to anyone, in particular deposition in a library, institutional
or private website, or ftp-site for public access, is expressly forbidden.
Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters
An international journal for field-orientated ichthyology

Volume 25 • Number 4 • March 2015
pages 289-384, 49 figs., 14 tabs.

Managing Editor
Maurice Kottelat, Rue des Rauraques 6
CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland
Tel. + 41  32  4623175 · Fax  + 41  32  4622259 · E-mail  mkottelat@dplanet.ch

Editorial board
Ralf Britz, Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Sven O. Kullander, Naturhistoriska Riksmuseet, Stockholm, Sweden
Helen K. Larson, Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory, Darwin, Australia
Lukas Rüber, Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
Ivan Sazima, Museu de Zoologia, Unicamp, Campinas, Brazil
Paul H. Skelton, South African Institute for Aquatic Biodiversity, Grahamstown, South Africa
Tan Heok Hui, Lee Kong Chian Natural History Museum, National University of Singapore, Singapore

Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters is published quarterly

Subscriptions should be addressed to the Publisher:

Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, Wolfratshauser Str. 27, 81379 München, Germany
PERSONAL SUBSCRIPTION  : EURO 100 per Year/volume - 4 issues (includes surface mail shipping)
INSTITUTIONAL SUBSCRIPTION  : EURO 180 per Year/volume - 4 issues (includes surface mail shipping)

Manuscripts should be addressed to the Managing Editor:

Maurice Kottelat, Rue des Rauraques 6, CH-2800 Delémont, Switzerland

CIP-Titelaufnahme der Deutschen Bibliothek

Ichthyological exploration of freshwaters : an international

journal for field-orientated ichthyology. – München : Pfeil.
Erscheint jährl. viermal. – Aufnahme nach Vol. 1, No. 1 (1990)
ISSN 0936-9902

Vol. 1, No. 1 (1990) –

Copyright © 2015 by Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, Germany

All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. 
Applications for such permission, with a statement of the purpose and extent of the reproduction, should be
addressed to the Publisher, Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, Wolfratshauser Str. 27, 81379 München, Germany.

Printed by PBtisk a.s., Příbram I – Balonka

ISSN 0936-9902
Printed in the European Union

Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, Wolfratshauser Str. 27, 81379 München, Germany
Phone + 49  89  742827-0  ·  Fax + 49  89  7242772  ·  E-mail: info@pfeil-verlag.de  ·  www.pfeil-verlag.de
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
305

Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4, pp. 305-321, 7 figs., 1 tab., March 2015
© 2015 by Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil, München, Germany – ISSN 0936-9902

Two new species of Garra

(Pisces: Cyprinidae)
from the Chindwin River basin in Manipur, India,
with notes on some nominal Garra species
of the Himalayan foothills

Kongbrailatpam Nebeshwar* and Waikhom Vishwanath*

Two new species of Garra with smooth snout are described from the Chindwin River basin in Manipur, India.
Garra chakpiensis, new species, is distinguished from its congeners, among others, by having 38-40 lateral-line
scales; the upper lip as a transverse flap-like non-papilliferous fleshy tissue; chest and median region of abdomen
scaled; central callous pad relatively anteriorly-placed; and presence of pleated papilliferous fold on each side.
Garra ukhrulensis, new species, is distinguished from its congeners, among others, by having 40-41 lateral-line
scales; presence of upper lip as one thick transverse band of nonpapilliferous and papilliferous fleshy tissue ar-
ranged in 2-4 transverse ridges; chest and median region of abdomen naked; central callous pad relatively pos-
teriorly-placed; and presence of pleated papilliferous fold on each side. The characters of some nominal species
earlier reported under various generic names are discussed based on their original description and some type
materials.

Introduction G. poecilura and G. nigricolis. Hora (1921) described

Species of the bottom dwelling cyprinid fish genus
Garra Hamilton, 1822 are characteristic in having
a modified lower lip forming a mental adhesive
disc, with one of the following snout characters:
a smooth surface, a transverse lobe, a proboscis
with a transverse lobe, and a pair of rostral lobes
with or without a transverse lobe. Kullander &
Fang (2004) first observed a pair of rostral lobes
on the snout of each of their newly described six
species from the Rakhine Yoma in Myanmar, viz.,
G. propulvinus, G. vittatula, G. rakhinica, G. flavatra,
G. naganensis from the Brahmaputra River basin
and G. abhoyai from the Chindwin River basin in
Manipur. Other known species in Manipur are:
G. compressa, G. elongata, G. litanensis, G. namyaen­
sis and G. paralissorhynchus from the Chindwin
River basin; and G. manipurensis and G. lissorhyn­
chus from the Brahmaputra River basin (Nebesh-
war et al. 2012; Shangningam & Vishwanath,
2012).
Several workers (Günther, 1868; Hora, 1921;
Menon, 1964; Jayaram, 1991; Talwar & Jingran,
1991) treated several old nominal species that are

* Department of Life Sciences, Manipur University, Canchipur, Imphal-795003, Manipur, India. E-mail:

knebeshwar@yahoo.com, wvnath@gmail.com

Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4

 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
306
known from the Ganga and Brahmaputra River
basins (viz., Gonorhynchus brachypterus, G. cauda­
tus, G. bimaculatus, Mayoa modesta, Discognathus
macrochir, Garra jenkinsonianum, G. prashadi,
G. chaudhurii, G. montisalsi and Discognathus kan­
grae) as junior synonyms of valid species of
Garra. Gonorhynchus brachypterus had been syn-
onymized with G. rupecula; G. caudatus with
G. nasuta; M. modesta and D. macrochir with G. lis­
sorhynchus; D. kangrae and G. montisalsi with
G. gotyla; G. jenkinsonianum with G. mullya; G. pra­
shadi with G. lamta; G. chaudhurii with G. annan­
dalei; and G. bimaculatus with G. lamta or G. goty­
la. Nebeshwar & Vishwanath (2013) considered
G. montisalsi and G. kangrae to be distinct from
G. gotyla.
Based on the original description and some
type materials, we discuss here the characters of
some nominal species known from the Himalayan
foothills and considered as synonyms of various
valid species of Garra. We also describe two new
species of Garra from several collections in the
Chindwin River basin in Chandel and Ukhrul
districts of Manipur.
Materials and methods
The descriptions are based on formalin preserved
specimens. Measurements were taken point to
point with digital calipers to 0.1 mm. Fin rays and
numbers of scales were counted under a stereo-
scopic zoom microscope. The number in paren-
theses after a specific count indicates number of
specimens with that count. Counts, measure-
ments, terminology of oromandibular structures
and snout morphology follow Nebeshwar &
Vishwanath (2013). Lateral-line scales are count-
ed from the anteriormost pored scale in contact
with the shoulder girdle to the posteriormost
pored scale on the caudal fin. Dorsal and anal-fin
ray counts follow Kottelat (2001), that is, indicat-
ing the last deeply branched ray as “1 ½”.
In most species of Garra, the upper lip is absent.
In some species of Garra, the upper lip is present
as a very thin transverse band of one or two rows
of papillae or a transverse flap-like nonpapillifer-
ous fleshy tissue reflected against the posterior
surface of the upper jaw. The transverse flap-like
tissue is thicker medially and may be adnate
closely to the proximal margin of the upper jaw.
In some species, the upper lip is present as a thick
transverse band of nonpapilliferous and papil-
liferous fleshy tissue arranged in 2-4 transverse
ridges. The transverse band is thicker medially
and may be adnate to the mid-length of the upper
jaw.
In some Garra, an oromandibular structure
termed as pleated papilliferous fold (Kullander
& Fang, 2004: figs. 6, 8) extends from the inner
lateral side of the anterolateral lobe to the groove
between the lower jaw and the anteromedian fold
on each side. The folds may be continuous with
each other by a variable height of membranous
flap. The pleated papilliferous folds and the
membranous flap are adnate to the lower base
between the lower jaw and the anteromedian fold
of the adhesive disc. The central callous pad may
be divided into anterior and posterior halves by
an imaginary transverse line drawn through the
widest points of the central callous pad.
For vertebral counts, eight specimens of
G. chakpiensis and five specimens of G. ukhrulensis
were dissected and stained with alizarin red S.
The total number of vertebral count indicated by
the sum of abdominal and caudal vertebrae fol-
lows Robert (1989). Abdominal vertebrae are
counted from the vertebrae of the Weberian ap-
paratus to the vertebra with its haemal spine
anterior to the first anal-fin pterygiophore and
caudal vertebrae, from the vertebra with its hae-
mal spine immediately posterior to the first anal-
fin pterygiophore to the vertebra bearing hypural
plate. The Weberian apparatus is counted as four
vertebrae. Predorsal vertebrae are counted from
the vertebrae of the Weberian apparatus to the
vertebra with its neural spine immediately ante-
rior to the first dorsal-fin pterygiophore.
Specimens are deposited in: MUMF, Manipur
University Museum of Fishes, Imphal; RGUMF,
Rajiv Gandhi University of Museum of Fishes,
Rono Hills; ZSI, Zoological Survey of India, Kol-
kata.
Garra chakpiensis, new species
(Fig. 1)
Holotype.  MUMF 4308, 83.0 mm SL; India: Ma-
nipur: Chandel district: Chakpi River at Tangpol
(Chindwin River basin), 24°11'50" N 93°54'49" E;
B. D. Shangningam, 30-31 December 2010.
Paratypes.  MUMF 4309/25, 25, 57.0-133.7 mm
SL; same data as holotype. – MUMF 4310/20, 20,
50.0-112.0 mm SL; India: Manipur: Chandel dis-
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
307

c d
Fig. 1. Garra chakpiensis; a-c, MUMF 4308, holotype, 83.0 mm SL; India: Manipur: Chandel district: Chakpi
River; lateral view (a), ventral view (b), mental adhesive disc (c);  and d, MUMF unreg., 65.0 mm SL; rostral cap
and anteromedian fold removed to show upper lip (white arrow) and membranous flap (black arrow) connecting
pleated papilliferous tissue on each side.

trict: Chakpi stream at Mombi (Chindwin River
basin), 24°13'18" N 93°52'45" E; W. Manojkumar,
12 November 1992.
Diagnosis.  Garra chakpiensis is distinguished from
congeners in the Chindwin-Irrawaddy and Gan-
ga-Brahmaputra River systems by the following
combination of characters: smooth snout; 38-40
lateral-line scales; one faint blackish midlateral
stripe on body; 16 circumpeduncular scale rows;
irregularly arranged 11-14 predorsal scales; pres-
ence of pleated papilliferous fold and distinct
upper lip as one transverse flap-like nonpapil-
liferous fleshy tissue; chest and abdomen with
deeply embedded scales; central callous pad of
adhesive disc small (width 15-18 % HL; length
22-28 % HL), its anterior and posterior halves
equally rounded, and relatively anteriorly-placed
(a transverse line drawn through the base of
maxillary barbels crossing the median region of
the central callous pad); and anteromedian fold
of adhesive disc moderately arched and extending
anteriorly to mid-length of lower jaw.
Description.  Measurements of 22 specimens
(50.0-112.0 mm SL) are given in Table 1. Body
elongate, moderately compressed, more com-
pressed in region of caudal peduncle. Dorsal head
profile rising gently over snout, slightly convex,
more or less continuous with dorsal body profile
to dorsal-fin origin. Ventral profile from pectoral-
to pelvic-fin origins straight in male or convex in
mature female and profile from pelvic- to anal-fin
origins straight. Head moderately large, de-
pressed with convex interorbital area; height less
than length; width greater than height. Snout
moderately rounded with small tubercles scat-
tered on tip and ventral region to nostrils. Eyes
located dorsolaterally in middle of head. Sublach-
rymal groove posteroventrally sloped, indicated
by two shallow grooves running parallel forming
a narrow ridge between grooves; upper groove

Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4

 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
308

more distinct, passing dorsally near base of rostral
barbel, slightly anteriorly extending beyond base
of rostral barbel; lower groove passing ventrally
along base of rostral barbel and partially sur-
rounding it anteriorly, directly continuous to
rostral cap groove; sublachrymal groove indistinct
in small specimens.
Two pairs of barbels; rostral barbel anterolat-
erally located, shorter than eye diameter; maxil-
lary barbel at corner of mouth, shorter than rostral
barbel. Rostral cap well-developed, fimbriate,
about one fourth of length of its distal margin on
each lateral extremity smooth; papillate ventral
surface moderately wide; rostral cap fully cover-
ing upper jaw; in some specimens, rostral cap
covering distal marginal region of lower jaw.
Distinct upper lip present as one transverse flap-
like nonpapilliferous fleshy tissue, closely adnate
to proximal margin of upper jaw. Mental adhesive
disc elliptical, shorter than wide and narrower
than head width; anteromedian fold of adhesive
disc relatively more arched, extending anteriorly
to mid-length of lower jaw; central callous pad
of adhesive disc small, its anterior and posterior
halves equally rounded, width 1.4-1.7 times of
its length; pleated papilliferous fold on each side
of adhesive disc present, continuous with each
other by membranous flap; groove between an-
teromedian fold and central callous pad shallow;
lateroposterior flap of adhesive disc extending
vertically to anterior margin of eye; papillae on
papillate ventral surface of rostral cap of same
size, densely set; papillae on fimbriae of rostral
cap relatively small; papillae on anteromedian
fold of same size, fleshy, elongated, densely set,
relatively large, and more elongated on posterior

Table 1.  Morphometric data of Garra chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis. Ranges include values of holotype.

G. chakpiensis (n = 22) G. ukhrulensis (n = 16)

holotype range mean SD holotype range mean SD
Standard length (mm) 83.0 50.0-112.0 109.0 55.0-110.5
In percent of standard length
Body depth 22.8 18.0-24.1 22.1 2.4 18.6 16.6-21.3 19.1 1.5
Head length 23.5 22.5-25.4 23.8 1.0 22.4 22.4-25.7 24.2 1.1
Head depth 15.5 14.6-16.5 15.6 0.6 13.6 13.6-16.2 14.9 1.0
Head width 16.8 15.6-18.5 16.9 0.7 16.3 16.1-18.9 17.4 1.0
Body width at anal-fin origin 11.1  9.9-11.4 10.7 0.6 10.4  8.6-12.5 10.2 1.3
Body width at dorsal-fin origin 17.1 14.1-20.3 16.3 1.9 15.2 13.8-17.3 15.5 1.3
Caudal peduncle length 14.9 13.7-16.0 14.5 0.9 15.8 13.2-16.8 15.4 1.2
Caudal peduncle height 12.2 12.0-12.9 12.4 0.3 12.3 11.8-13.6 12.6 0.7
Dorsal fin-base length 14.3 14.3-16.8 15.7 0.7 14.5 12.7-15.5 14.2 1.0
Dorsal-fin length 22.0 21.7-24.1 22.9 0.9 19.5 19.5-26.6 22.5 2.5
Pectoral-fin length 17.9 17.6-21.9 20.5 1.4 19.3 19.3-23.0 21.3 1.2
Pelvic-fin length 16.9 16.9-20.3 18.0 1.0 17.2 17.2-20.8 19.2 1.3
Anal-fin base length  8.5 7.4-9.3  8.3 0.5  8.1 7.8-9.0  8.5 0.4
Anal-fin length 17.8 17.0-19.6 18.3 0.9 17.4 17.0-21.7 18.7 1.7
Predorsal length 48.3 48.3-51.9 49.9 1.1 50.0 48.4-51.9 50.4 1.0
Prepelvic length 55.2 53.8-56.4 55.3 1.0 52.3 52.1-55.3 53.5 1.2
Pre-anus length 72.0 69.0-72.0 70.7 1.0 67.5 66.8-69.5 68.0 1.0
Preanal length 78.2 77.3-80.3 78.8 1.3 78.5 76.7-80.7 78.8 1.3
Prepectoral length 20.1 17.5-21.7 20.1 1.3 18.4 18.4-22.6 20.8 1.3
In percent of pelvic-anal fins distance
Distance from anus to anal fin 34 34-40 36 2.9 41 39-46 42 2.3
In percent of head length
Snout length 52 46-53 50 2.4 49 48-52 50 1.4
Eye diameter 19 17-23 20 2.0 15 15-20 17 1.4
Interorbital distance 49 45-52 48 2.3 46 43-52 47 3.0
Disc width 38 36-42 39 2.9 44 43-48 46 1.5
Disc length 25 20-30 25 3.3 26 24-27 26 1.0
Central callous pad width 24 22-28 25 1.9 28 26-30 28 1.6
Central callous pad length 16 15-18 16 1.2 14 12-16 15 1.3

Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra

 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
Fig. 2.  Map showing collection sites of Garra chakpiensis (() and G. ukhrulensis (@).
marginal surface; papillae on lateroposterior flap
relatively small, regularly arranged; papillae on
anterolateral lobe of adhesive disc densely set,
transversely elongated; short plicae present on
posterior region of anterolateral lobe.
Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 8 1/2 (19) or 9 1/2 (3)
branched rays; last simple ray shorter than head
length; distal margin slightly concave; origin at
middle of standard length, inserted anterior to
vertical through pelvic-fin origin; first and second
branched rays longest, last branched ray extend-
ing anterior vertically to anal-fin origin. Pectoral
fin with 1 simple and 11 (2), 12 (14) or 13 (6)
branched rays, reaching midway to pelvic-fin
origin; fourth branched ray longest, shorter than
head length; margin subacuminate. Pelvic fin with
1 simple and 7 (5) or 8 (17) branched rays; second
branched ray longest, reaching beyond midway
to anal-fin origin, surpassing anus; origin closer
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4
309
to anal-fin origin than to pectoral-fin origin, in-
serted under base of fourth branched dorsal-fin
ray; posterior margin nearly straight. Anal fin
short with 3 simple and 5 1/2 (22) branched rays;
first branched ray longest, not reaching base of
caudal fin; posterior margin straight; origin at
midway between caudal-fin base and pelvic-fin
origin. Anus closer to anal-fin origin than to
pelvic-fin origin. Caudal fin forked; tip of lobes
pointed; upper lobe slightly longer; tenth ray
shortest.
Lateral line complete, with 38 (6), 39 (14) or
40 (2) scales. Transverse scale rows above lateral
line 4 1/2 (2), 5 (16) or 5 1/2 (4) and scales between
lateral line and anal-fin origin 4 (2), 4 1/2 (15) or
5 (5). Circumpeduncular scale rows 16 (15). Pre-
dorsal scales 11 (2), 12 (7), 13 (5) or 14 (5); scales
irregularly arranged, smaller than flank scales.
Chest and belly scaled, embedded under thin
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
310
skin. One long axillary scale at base of pelvic fin,
its tip extending beyond posterior end of pelvic-
fin base. Preanal scales 5 (5), 6 (16) or 7 (1).
Osteological feature. Total vertebrae 38 (8) or
40 (1), consisting of 25+13 (6), 25+15 (1) or 26+12 (2)
abdominal + caudal vertebrae. Predorsal verte-
brae 12 (8) or 13 (1).
Colouration.  In formalin, body dark gray dor-
sally; light brownish or yellowish below scale row
of lateral line and ventrally. Dorsum of head,
snout and opercle more dark gray. Lips, gular
region dark yellowish. A small rounded black
spot at upper angle of gill opening. One faint black
midlateral stripe with diffuse margins (about one
scale wide) over scale row of lateral line. Stripe
more distinct in small specimens (50.0-80.0 mm
SL). All fins uniformly light grayish. Dorsal sur-
face of pectoral and pelvic fins more grayish.
Distribution.  Garra chakpiensis is known from the
Chakpi River at Chakpikarong in Chandel district
(Chindwin River basin) in Manipur (Fig. 2).
Etymology.  Named after its type locality, the
Chakpi River. An adjective.
Garra ukhrulensis, new species
(Fig. 3)
Holotype. MUMF 4311, 109.0 mm SL; India:
Manipur: Ukhrul district: Challou River at Kham-
son (Chindwin River basin), 25°12'18" N 94°30'
56" E; L. Kosygin, 17 March 1998.
Paratypes.  29 specimens, all from India: Manipur:
Ukhrul district, Chindwin River basin: MUMF
4312/11, 11, 76.0-110.5; same data as holotype.
– MUMF 4313/2, 2, 93.5-94.0 mm SL; Challou
River at Thetsi (near Manipur-Nagaland border),
25°41'86" N 94°37'14" E; L. Kosygin, 2 June 1994.
– MUMF 4314, 1, 55.0 mm SL; Momo stream, a
tributary of Challou River at Tusom, 25°27'44" N
94°37'18" E; L. Kosygin, 2 March 1998. – MUMF
4315/15, 15, 55.5-138.4 mm SL; Challou River at
Jessami, 25°37'48.53" N 94°35'00.35" E; K. Nebesh-
war et al., 27-28 December 2010.
Diagnosis.  Garra ukhrulensis is distinguished
from congeners in the Chindwin-Irrawaddy and
Ganga-Brahmaputra River systems by the follow-
ing combination of characters: smooth snout;
40-41 lateral-line scales; one faint blackish mid-
lateral stripe on body; 16 circumpeduncular scale
rows; predorsal scales very small and irregularly
arranged; presence of pleated papilliferous fold
and distinct upper lip as a thick transverse band
of nonpapilliferous and papilliferous fleshy tissue
arranged in 2-4 transverse ridges; chest and
median region of abdomen naked; central callous
pad of the adhesive disc small (width 12-16 %
HL; length 26-30 % HL), its posterior half more
rounded than anterior half, and relatively poste-
riorly-placed (a transverse line drawn through
the base of the maxillary barbels crossing the
anterior margin of the central callous pad); and
anteromedian fold of the adhesive disc slightly
arched, and extending anteriorly to base of
lower jaw.
Description.  Measurements of 16 specimens
(76.0-110.5 mm SL) are given in Table 1. Body
highly elongate and gracile, moderately com-
pressed, more compressed in region of caudal
peduncle. Dorsal head profile rising gently over
snout, slightly convex, then dorsal body profile
to dorsal-fin origin slightly convex, often with
slight demarcation at nape. Ventral profile from
pectoral-to pelvic-fin origins straight and from
pelvic- to anal-fin origins straight. Head moder-
ately large, depressed with convex interorbital
area; height less than length; width greater than
height. Snout broadly rounded with small tuber-
cles scattered on two or more rows on tip region,
more tubercles on antero- and posteroventral
regions to nostrils. In some specimens, tubercles
present on interorbital area. Eyes located dorso-
laterally in middle of head. Sublachrymal groove
posteroventrally sloped, indicated by two shallow
grooves running parallel forming a narrow ridge
between grooves; upper groove more distinct,
passing dorsally near base of rostral barbel,
slightly anteriorly extending beyond base of
rostral barbel, lower groove passing ventrally
along base of rostral barbel and partially sur-
rounding it anteriorly, directly continuous to
rostral cap groove; sublachrymal groove indistinct
in small specimens.
Two pairs of barbels; rostral barbel anterolat-
erally located, shorter than eye diameter; maxil-
lary barbel at corner of mouth, shorter than rostral
barbel. Rostral cap well-developed, fimbriate,
about one fourth of length of its distal margin on
each lateral extremity smooth; papillate ventral
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
311

c d
Fig. 3. Garra ukhrulensis; a-c, MUMF 4310, holotype, 109.0 mm SL; India: Manipur: Ukhrul district: Challou
River; lateral view (a), ventral view (b), mental adhesive disc (c),  and d, MUMF unreg., 73.0 mm SL; mental
adhesive disc, rostral cap removed to show upper lip (white arrow).

surface moderately wide; rostral cap covering
upper jaw excluding distal median region. Dis-
tinct upper lip present as one thick transverse
band of papilliferous fleshy tissue arranged in
2-3 transverse ridges; in some specimen, upper
lip represented by thick transverse band of fleshy
tissue arranged in 4 transverse ridges, of which
fleshy tissue on anteriormost ridge usually non-
papilliferous, thicker, flap-like, more extended
posteroventrally over papilliferous fleshy tissue
on posterior ridges; upper lip partially exposed
or fully covered by rostral cap. Mental adhesive
disc elliptical, shorter than wide and narrower
than head width; anteromedian fold of adhesive
disc slightly arched, extending anteriorly to base
of lower jaw; central callous pad of adhesive disc
small, its posterior half more rounded than ante-
rior half, width 1.8-2.2 times of its length; pleat-
ed papilliferous fold on each side of adhesive disc
present, not continuous or continuous with each
other by membranous flap; groove between
anteromedian fold and central callous pad shal-
low; lateroposterior flap of adhesive disc extend-
ing anterior vertically to anterior margin of eye;
papillae on papillate ventral surface of rostral
cap densely set, relatively large on distal half;
papillae on fimbriae of rostral cap relatively
small; papillae on anteromedian fold of same size,
fleshy, and densely set; papillae on lateroposte-
rior flap relatively small, regularly arranged;
papillae on anterolateral lobe of adhesive disc of
same size, regularly arranged. Papillae may be

Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4

 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
312
present on anterior marginal surface of central
callous pad.
Dorsal fin with 3 (5) or 4 (11) simple and 7 1/2 (5)
or 8 1/2 (11) branched rays; last simple ray shorter
than head length; distal margin slightly concave;
origin at middle of standard length, inserted
anterior to vertical through pelvic-fin origin; first
and second branched rays longest, last branched
ray extending anterior vertically to anal-fin origin.
Pectoral fin with 1 simple and 12 (4), 13 (9) or 14 (3)
branched rays, reaching beyond midway to pel-
vic-fin origin; sixth branched ray longest, shorter
than head length; margin subacuminate. Pelvic
fin with 1 simple and 7 (12) or 8 (4) branched rays;
second branched ray longest, reaching beyond
midway to anal-fin origin, surpassing anus; origin
closer to anal-fin origin than to pectoral-fin origin,
inserted under base of first branched dorsal-fin
ray; posterior margin slightly convex. Anal fin
short with 3 simple and 5 1/2 (16) branched rays;
first branched ray longest, not reaching base of
caudal fin; posterior margin slightly convex; ori-
gin closer to caudal-fin base than to pelvic-fin
origin. Anus closer to anal-fin origin than to
pelvic-fin origin. Caudal fin forked; tip of lobes
pointed; lower lobe slightly longer; tenth and
eleventh rays shortest.
Lateral line complete, with 40 (5) or 41 (11)
scales. Transverse scale rows above lateral line
4 (5) or 5 (11) and scales between lateral line and
anal-fin origin 4 1/2 (6) or 5 (10). Circumpeduncu-
lar scale rows 16 (16). Predorsal scales irregularly
arranged, smaller than flank scales. Chest and
median region of belly naked. One axillary scale
at base of pelvic fin, its tip not extending beyond
posterior end of pelvic-fin base. Preanal scales
5 (4), 6 (11) or 7 (1).
Osteological features.  Total vertebrae 39 (2) or
40 (3), consisting of 26+13 (1), 26+14 (2), 27+12 (1)
or 27+13 (1) abdominal + caudal vertebrae. Pre-
dorsal vertebrae 13 (5).
Colouration.  In formaline, body dark brown or
gray dorsally, light brownish or yellowish ven-
trally. Dorsum of head, snout, and opercle dark
brown or gray. Lips, gular region, posterior half
of opercle yellowish. A small rounded black spot
at upper angle of gill opening. One thin faint black
midlateral stripe over scale row of lateral line. In
large specimens (110.5-138.4 mm SL), stripe absent.
All fins uniformly grayish. Dorsal fin and dorsal
surface of pectoral and pelvic fins more grayish.
Distribution.  Garra ukhrulensis is known from
different sites on the Challou River at Thetsi,
Khamson and Jeshami and its tributary, Momo
stream at Tusom in Ukhrul district (Chindwin
River basin) in Manipur (Fig. 2).
Etymology.  Named after its type locality, Ukhrul
district. An adjective.
Discussion
Garra chakpiensis is differentiated from G. ukhru­
lensis in having a more anteriorly-placed mental
adhesive disc (the anteromedian fold extends
anteriorly to the mid-length of the lower jaw vs.
extends anteriorly to the base of the lower jaw)
and central callous pad (a transverse line drawn
through the base of maxillary barbels crossing
the median region of the central callous pad vs.
crossing the anterior margin of the central callous
pad); anteromedian fold of the adhesive disc
relatively more (vs. less) arched; anterior and
posterior halves of the central callous pad equal-
ly rounded (vs. posterior half more rounded than
anterior half); lower jaw partly (vs. fully) exposed;
fewer lateral-line scales (38-40 vs. 40-41); a nar-
rower adhesive disc (disc width 36-42 % HL vs.
43-48); and in the absence (vs. presence) of scales
on the chest and the median region of the abdo-
men.
Eight species of Garra are present in Manipur,
of which: G. abhoyai, G. compressa, G. elongata,
G. litanensis, G. namyaensis and G. paralissorhyn­
chus are in the Chindwin River basin and G. lis­
sorhynchus, G. manipurensis, and G. naganensis, in
the Brahmaputra River basin. Garra elongata and
G. compressa were described from the Challou
River in Ukhrul district and are sympatric with
the G. ukhrulensis described above.
Garra ukhrulensis differs from G. compressa and
G. elongata in having a smaller adhesive disc (disc
width 43-48 % HL vs. 57-66; disc length 24-27 %
HL vs. 47-55; central callous pad width 26-30 %
HL vs. 38-43; and central callous pad length 12-
16 % HL vs. 31-36); a greater pre-anus distance
(66.8-69.5 % SL vs. 60.2-64.3); a more posteriorly-
situated anus (distance from anus to anal-fin
origin 39-46 % of pelvic-anal distance vs. 46-56);
and in the absence (vs. presence) of a median
black band on the caudal fin and a submarginal
black band on the dorsal fin. Garra ukhrulensis
further differs from G. elongata in having a snout
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
with a smooth surface (vs. weakly developed
proboscis and a transverse lobe); a shorter caudal
peduncle (length 13.2-16.8 % SL vs. 19.2-20.7); a
longer anal-fin base (7.8-9.0 % SL vs. 6.5-7.3); a
greater prepelvic distance (52.1-55.3 % SL vs.
46.7-49.7); and in the absence (vs. presence) of a
transverse lobe on the snout. Garra ukhrulensis
further differs from G. compressa in having a snout
with a smooth surface (vs. transverse lobe); a
longer head (22.4-25.7 % SL vs. 20.3-21.9); a
greater preanal distance (76.7-80.7 % SL vs. 73.4-
75.3); a deeper head (13.6-16.2 % SL vs. 12.0-12.9);
and forked (vs. emarginated) caudal fin.
Garra chakpiensis differs from G. compressa and
G. elongata in having a smaller adhesive disc (disc
width 36-42 % HL vs. 57-66; disc length 20-30 %
HL vs. 47-55; central callous pad width 22-28 %
HL vs. 38-43; and central callous pad length 15-
18 % HL vs. 31-36); a greater prepelvic distance
(53.8-56.4 % SL vs. 46.7-52.7), pre-anus distance
(69.0-72.0 % SL vs. 60.2-64.3) and preanal distance
(77.3-80.3 % SL vs. 73.4-77.3); a more posteriorly-
situated anus (distance from anus to anal-fin
origin 34-40 % of pelvic-anal distance vs. 46-57);
a shorter caudal peduncle (length 13.7-16.0 % SL
vs. 16.5-20.7); and in the absence (vs. presence)
of a median black band on the caudal fin and a
submarginal band on the dorsal fin. Garra chak­
piensis further differs from G. elongata in having
a snout with a smooth surface (vs. weakly devel-
oped proboscis and a transverse lobe); and a
longer dorsal fin (21.7-24.1 % SL vs. 18.7-20.5),
dorsal-fin base (14.3-16.8 % SL vs. 11.2-12.6) and
anal-fin base (7.4-9.3 % SL vs. 6.5-7.3). Garra
chakpiensis further differs from G. compressa in
having a snout with a smooth surface (vs. trans-
verse lobe); a longer head (22.5-25.4 % SL vs.
20.3-21.9); and a deeper head (14.6-16.5 % SL vs.
12.0-12.9).
Garra chakpiensis and G.ukhrulensis differ from
G. abhoyai, G. namyaensis, G. paralissorhynchus,
G. lissorhynchus and G. manipurensis in having
more branched anal-fin rays (5 1/2 vs. 4 1/2) and
more lateral-line scales (38-41 vs. 32-36); in the
absence (vs. presence; except in G. manipurensis)
of a W-shaped black band on the caudal fin; in
having more branched dorsal-fin rays (7 1/2-9 1/2
vs. 6 1/2; except in G. manipurensis); and in the
absence (vs. presence; except in G. abhoyai) of a
pair of rostral lobes on the snout. They further
differ from G. namyaensis and G. paralissorhynchus
in having more transverse scale rows between
dorsal-fin origin and lateral line (4-5 1/2 vs. 3 1/2).
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4
313
The triangular fleshy rostral lobes of G. namya­
ensis, G. paralissorhynchus and G. lissorhynchus
differ from that of G. manipurensis in the appear-
ance and position. In the first three species, the
lobes are broadly rounded, relatively short, not
elevated from the surface of the snout and lo-
cated in a depression close to the tip of the snout
a little distance above anterodorsally to the base
of the rostral barbel. There may be variations in
the demarcation around and under the depression
of the lobe among species. The lobe has small
conical tubercles on its outer surface and lateral
edges with one or two conical tubercles at its blunt
tip. The lobe in these species is similar to the
rostral flap of Zhang & Kottelat (2006: 2b). In
G. manipurensis, the lobe is narrowly pointed,
relatively long, not elevated from the surface of
the snout and encased in a distally deep widened
sublachrymal groove, which passes dorsally along
the base of the rostral barbel. The lobe has small
conical tubercles on its outer surface and lateral
edges with a conspicuous conical tubercle at its
pointed tip. This lobe is similar to the rostral lobe
of Zhang & Kottelat (2006:2a). The illustrations
(Fig. 4a-b) show differences in the lobes of the
snout of G. manipurensis and G. lissorhynchus.
Garra chakpiensis differs from G. naganensis in
having a greater prepelvic distance (53.8-56.4 %
SL vs. 51.8-53.7); a more posteriorly-situated anus
(distance from anus to anal-fin origin 34-40 % of
pelvic-anal distance vs. 41-44); a narrower adhe-
sive disc (disc width 36-42 % HL vs. 42-48; and
central callous pad width 22-28 % HL vs. 29-34);
and in the presence (vs. absence) of a faint mid-
lateral stripe on the body. Garra ukhrulenesis differs
from G. naganensis in having more lateral-line
scales (40-41 vs. 38); a more posteriorly-placed
central callous pad (a transverse line drawn
through the base of maxillary barbels crossing
the anterior margin of the central callous pad vs.
crossing the median region of the central callous
pad); lower jaw fully (vs. partially) exposed; and
in the absence (vs. presence) of scales on the chest
and the median region of the belly. Garra chakpi­
ensis and G. ukhrulensis differ from G. litanensis in
having a snout with a smooth surface (vs. prom-
inent proboscis and a transverse lobe).
Eight species of Garra, viz., G. annandalei,
G. arupi, G. kalpangi, G. kempi, G. magnidiscus,
G. rupecula, G. gotyla and G. nasuta are recorded
in the Brahmaputra River basin in northeastern
India. Garra chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis differ
from G. annandalei in having more lateral-line
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
314
a b
Fig. 4.  Rostral lobe on the snout of: a, Garra manipurensis, MUMF 130, holotype, 59.8 mm SL; b, G. lissorhynchus,
MUMF unreg., 83.0 mm SL.
scales (38-41 vs. 34-35), more transverse scale
rows between lateral line and anal-fin origin (4-5
vs. 3 1/2-4); predorsal scales small and irregularly
arranged (vs. large and regularly arranged); and
a smaller eye (diameter 15-23 % HL vs. 24-30);
from G. arupi in having more lateral-line scales
(38-41 vs. 35-36), more transverse scale rows
between lateral line and anal-fin origin (4-5 vs.
3 1/2); a more posteriorly-situated anus (distance
from anus to anal-fin origin 34-46 % of pelvic-anal
distance vs. 53-60); in the absence (vs. presence)
of a distinct submarginal black band on the dor-
sal fin; in having a snout with a smooth surface
(vs. transverse lobe); and in the presence (vs.
absence) of a faint midlateral stripe on the body;
from G. kalpangi in having a snout with a smooth
surface (vs. weakly-developed proboscis); and
more lateral-line scales (38-41 vs. 32-33), preanal
scales (5-7 vs. 3), and more transverse scale rows
(scales between dorsal-fin origin and lateral line
4-5 1/2 vs. 3 1/2; scales between lateral line and anal-
fin origin 4-5 vs. 3 1/2); from G. kempi in having
more circumpeduncular scale rows (16 vs. 12),
and transverse scale rows between lateral line
and anal-fin origin (4-5 vs. 2 1/2); a smaller adhe-
sive disc (disc width 36-48 % HL vs. 54-59; disc
length 20-30 % HL vs. 42-48; central callous pad
width 22-30 % HL vs. 34-47; central callous pad
length 12-18 % HL vs. 25-28); and a more poste-
riorly-situated anus (distance from anus to anal-
fin origin 34-46 % of pelvic-anal distance vs.
48-53); from G. magnidiscus in having a snout with
a smooth surface (vs. transverse lobe); in the
absence (vs. presence) of a faint black blotch on
the caudal-fin base; more predorsal scales (16 vs.
12-14), more transverse scale rows between lat-
eral line and anal-fin origin (4-5 vs. 3-3 1/2); a
smaller adhesive disc (disc length 20-27 % HL
vs. 46-55; disc width 36-48 % HL vs. 60-68; cen-
tral callous pad length 12-18 % HL vs. 15-34;
central callous pad width 22-30 % HL vs. 33-41);
a shorter head (22.4-25.7 % SL vs. 26-29); and a
deeper head (14-17 % HL vs. 10-12).
M’Clelland (1839) described Gonorhynchus
rupecula from the Mishmee Mountains in the
Brahmaputra River basin. The original description
is of limited use and shows the following combi-
nation of characters: smooth snout, 35 scales along
the lateral line, 9 rows of scales between the
dorsal and pelvic fins, 8 dorsal-fin rays, 10 pec-
toral-fin rays, 9 pelvic-fin rays, 6 anal-fin rays and
rounded pectoral fin. Menon (1964) redescribed
the species in the genus Garra based on material
collected from the Naga Hills in the Chindwin
River basin in Manipur and considered G. ab­
hoyai a junior synonym of G. rupecula. Vishwanath
& Linthoingambi (2008) revalidated G. abhoyai
from the synonymy of G. rupecula and considered
the material that Menon (1964) identified as
G. rupecula from Manipur to be G. abhoyai. As no
precise diagnostic characters of G. rupecula can
be established at present, taking into consideration
only data from the original description, G. ru­
pecula can be differentiated from G. chakpiensis
and G. ukhrulensis in having: fewer lateral-line
scales (35 vs. 38-41), transverse scale rows be-
tween dorsal and pelvic fins (9 vs. 10-11), pecto-
ral-fin rays including simple ray (10 vs. 12-15),
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
315

b c
Fig. 5.  Garra montisalsi, ZSI F9953/1, holotype, 103 mm SL; India: Punjab: Nilwan ravine near Shapur salt ranges; 
a, lateral view; b, dorsal view of head;  and c, mental adhesive disc.

pelvic-fin rays including simple ray (6 vs. 8 1/2),
dorsal-fin rays including simple ray (8 vs. 10 1/2-
12 1/2); and in the presence (vs. absence) of two
rows of open pores, one row between the nostrils
and another between the eyes.
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath (2013) established
the identity of G. gotyla with a neotype designa-
tion from the Tista River in Sikkim and described
three new species from North east India (G. aruna­
chalensis, G. birostris, G. quadratirostris). All four
species are characteristic in having a snout with
a prominent proboscis and a transverse lobe.
Garra chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis differ from
the above four species in having a snout with a
smooth surface (vs. proboscis and a transverse
lobe); more lateral-line scales (38-41 vs. 32-37)
and preanal scales (5-7 vs. 3-4 in G. gotyla,
G. arunachalensis, and G. birostris); in the absence
(vs. presence) of distinct narrow black stripes on
the caudal peduncle; presence (vs. absence) of a
stripe on side of the body; and absence (vs. pres-
ence) of black spots on the base of dorsal-fin rays.
M’Clelland (1838) described Platycara nasuta
from a single specimen collected from the Kasya
Mountains (Khasi hills). The identity of P. nasuta
is confusing. Neither M’Clelland’s text nor the
accompanying illustration displays sufficient
information to diagnose the species from its con-
geners. He however clearly mentioned the pres-
ence of a pit between the nares. The illustration
(M’Clelland, 1838: pl. 55 figs. 2-2a) also shows
the pit and also probably a proboscis with ante-
riorly truncated margin and a transverse lobe.
Menon (1964) placed P. nasuta in the genus Garra.
Menon’s (1964: pl. 13 fig. 12) species from the
Kasya mountain in Assam (now Meghalaya), the
type locality, shows a trilobed proboscis and a
transverse lobe on the snout. However, Menon’s
definition of G. nasuta is clearly different from
that of M’Clelland (based on a comparison of the
illustrations alone), making Menon’s identifica-
tion unlikely. Garra nasuta sensu M’Clelland is
easily distinguished from G. chakpiensis and
G. ukhrulensis in having a snout probably with a
proboscis and a transverse lobe (vs. smooth sur-
face); in the presence (vs. absence) of a pit between
the nares; and fewer lateral-line scales (34 vs.
38-41), and fewer transverse scale rows between
dorsal-fin and pelvic-fin origins (8 vs. 10-11).
Kullander & Fang (2004) described G. propul­

Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4

 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
316
vinus, G. vittatula, G. rakhinica, G. flavatra and
G. nigricollis, from the western slope, and G. spi­
lota and G. poecilura from the eastern slope of the
Rakhine yoma in Myanmar. All these species
except G. spilota have a snout with a pair of rostral
lobes, which can easily differentiate the above six
species from G. chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis.
Garra chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis can be dif-
ferentiated from G. spilota in having more lateral-
line scales (38-41 vs. 30-31) and in the absence
(vs. presence) of blotches on the body. The illus-
trations (Kullander & Fang, 2004: figs. 1, 9-12)
show the rostral lobes on the snout of G. propul­
vinus, G. rakhinica, G. flavatra, G. poecilura and
G. nigricollis similar to the rostral flap of Akroko­
lioplax (Zhang & Kottelat, 2006: fig. 2b) and those
of G. vittatula similar to the rostral lobe of Epalze­
orhynchos (Zhang & Kottelat, 2006: fig. 2a) in
position and appearance.
The congeners recognized in the Irrawaddy
River basin in China are G. gravelyi, G. orientalis,
G. qiaojiensis, G. tengchongensis, G. bispinosa and
G. rotundinasus (Zhang 2006). Garra chakpiensis
and G. ukhrulensis can be differentiated from the
above congeners (except G. tengchongensis) in
having a snout with a smooth surface (vs. pro-
boscis with a transverse lobe); and more lateral-
line scales (38-41 vs. 32-37). Garra chakpiensis and
G. ukhrulensis differ from G. tengchongensis in
having more circumpeduncular scale rows (16
vs. 12) and transverse scale rows between anal-fin
origin and lateral line (4-5 vs. 3); and a shorter
disc (disc length 20-27 % HL vs. 36-43).
Several nominal species from the Ganga and
Brahmaputra River basins have been described
under various old generic names and that are
possibly Garra have been synonymized with
valid species by various workers (e. g. Hora, 1921;
Menon, 1964; Jayaram, 1991; Talwar & Jingran,
1991) without clear justification and without ex-
amination of types. Gonorhynchus brachypterus
was synonymized with G. rupecula; Gonorhynchus
caudatus with G. nasuta; Mayoa modesta and Dis­
cognathus macrochir with G. lissorhynchus; Discog­
nathus kangrae and Garra montisalsi with G. gotyla;
Garra jenkinsonianum with G. mullya; Garra pra­
shadi with G. lamta; Garra chaudhurii with G. an­
nandalei; and Gonorhynchus bimaculatus with
G. lamta or G. gotyla. We discuss here the differ-
ences in the characters of the valid Garra species
and those new species described here with those
of these nominal species, based on their original
descriptions and examination of the types of
G. chaudhurii, G. prashadi, G. jenkinsonianum and
G.montisalsi.
M’Clelland (1839) described Gonorhynchus
brachypterus from the Mishmee Mountains. Al-
though Menon (1964) considered it a synonym of
G. rupecula, the original description of the former
differs from the later in the distribution pattern
of pores on the snout (a few irregular pores scat-
tered vs. two rows of open pores, one row between
the nostrils and another between the eyes); num-
ber of transverse scale rows between dorsal and
pelvic fins (7 vs. 9), and pectoral-fin rays (14 vs.
10). Gonorhynchus brachypterus as described by
M’Clelland (1939) is also distinguished from
G. chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis in having fewer
lateral-line scales (36 vs. 38-41) and fewer trans-
verse scale rows between dorsal and pelvic fins
(7 vs. 10-11).
Menon (1964) considered Mayoa modesta and
Discognathus macrochir as synonyms of G. lisso­
rhynchus. Day (1870) described M. modesta from
the Mishmee Mountains; later he placed it in
Discognathus (Day, 1878, 1889). The report of the
presence of five simple rays in the pectoral fin of
the species in Day (1878, 1889) has made confu-
sion to the generic status of the species. Although
Stiassny & Getahun (2007) established the pres-
ence of two or more simple rays in the pectoral
fin as one of the generic characters in the African
species of the genus Garra, perusal of literature
of the descriptions of Asian Garra and examination
of several specimens in the museums in India
reveal the genus to have only one simple pectoral-
fin ray. Day (1871) reported the presence of only
one simple ray and slightly branched four rays
next to the simple ray in the pectoral fin of the
species. So, the report of the presence of five
simple pectoral-fin rays in Day (1878, 1889) is not
correct. The original description of M. modesta
also shows the following generic characters i. e.
a transverse mouth situated on the inferior surface
of the head and entirely surrounded by a large
sucker formed by both lips, which are thick and
have a free posterior edge; the lower lip close to
the edge of the mouth, the upper lip, and the
posterior margin of the sucker are all roughened.
The upper lip, the lower lip close to the edge of
the mouth and the posterior margin of the
sucker are most likely referable respectively to
the rostral cap of the snout, the anteromedian fold
of the adhesive disc and the lateroposterior flap
of the adhesive disc of the genus Garra. The word
‘roughened’ refers to the papillate surface of the
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
oromandibular structures. The illustration (Day,
1871: fig. 2) shows the ventral surface of the head
of the species, which has an adhesive disc as seen
in the genus Garra. So, the above characters sup-
port that M. modesta is a species of the genus
Garra.
Day’s (1870) described the species with the
following combination of characters: absence of
scales on the chest; presence of a dark blotch
behind the opercle, 35 lateral-line scales, 1 simple
and 7 branched dorsal-fin rays, 15 pectoral-fin
rays, 1 simple and 8 branched pelvic-fin rays, 1
simple and 5 branched anal-fin rays, 8 lateral
transverse scale rows and 2 1/2 transverse scale
rows between lateral line and pelvic-fin base.
Although Menon (1964) considered G. modesta as
a synonym of G. lissorhynchus, the former can be
distinguished from the later in having more
pelvic-fin rays (9 vs. 8), branched dorsal-fin rays
(7 or 8 vs. 6 1/2), and branched anal-fin rays (5 vs.
4 1/2); in the absence (vs. presence) of scales on the
chest; and presence (vs. absence) of a black mark
at the base of caudal fin and a dark blotch under
the dorsal fin. Besides, Mayoa modesta as described
by Day (1870, 1871) is also distinguished from
G. chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis in having fewer
lateral-line scales (35 vs. 38-41); fewer transverse
scale rows between lateral line and pelvic-fin base
2 1/2 (vs. 3 1/2); in the presence (vs. absence) of a
dark blotch under the dorsal fin and a mark at
the base of the caudal fin; and absence (vs. pres-
ence) of a faint midlateral stripe on the body.
Günther (1868) described Discognathus macro­
chir from Assam. Although it is considered a
junior synonym of G. lissorhynchus, it can be
distinguished from the later in having pectoral-fin
length greater (vs. smaller) than head length;
transverse scale rows between pelvic fin and
lateral line 2 (vs. 3 1/2); chest and middle of abdo-
men naked (vs. scaled); simple and branched
dorsal-fin rays 11 (vs. 8); and simple and branched
anal-fin rays 7 (vs. 6). Discognathus macrochir is
also distinguished from G. chakpiensis and
G. ukhrulensis in having fewer lateral-line scales
(34 vs. 38-41), and fewer transverse scale rows
between lateral line and pelvic fin (2 vs. 4-5);
pectoral-fin length greater (vs. lesser) than of the
head length. Discognathus macrochir is further
distinguished from G. chakpiensis in having chest
and abdomen naked (vs. scaled).
Hora (1921) and Prashad (1919) respectively
described Garra montisalsi and G. kangrae, both
from the western Himalayas in Punjab (Indus
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4
317
basin). Menon (1964) considered the two as junior
synonyms of G. gotyla. Nebeshwar & Vishwanath
(2013) treated these two nominal species distinct
from G. gotyla. The holotype of G. montisalsi (ZSI
F 9953/1; fig. 5) has the following combination
of snout characters: a proboscis that is projected
forward to the level of the tip of the snout; 16
distinct tubercles arranged in three rows on the
proboscis, with the upper one on its anterior
margin and two rows on the ventral surface; a
transverse lobe, with 23 distinct tubercles on its
anterior and dorsal surfaces, demarcated poste-
riorly by a deep transverse groove; and ventral
surface of proboscis not contacting the depressed
rostral surface of the snout. These characters can
distinguish G. motisalsi, a distinct species and
easily differentiate the species from G. chakpiensis
and G. ukhrulensis, which have a smooth surface
on the snout. The figure of Discognathus lamta in
Day (1878: pl. 123 figs. 1, 1a) showing a specimen
from the salt range in Punjab is most likely refer-
able to G. montisalsi.
Prashad (1919) described Garra kangrae based
on four specimens collected from a hill stream at
Jaugal-khad, Kangra district, Punjab. The types
of the species in the ZSI could not be traced.
However, Prashad’s (1919) description and figure
show the fish to have the following diagnostic
characters: scales extending forward on the chest
in the form of a triangle, its vertex pointing for-
ward; a proboscis not projecting forwards, with
its anterior margin sharply delineated from the
depressed rostral surface by a deep semicircular
groove extending along the lateral surfaces of the
snout up to the nostrils; and a weakly developed
transverse lobe on the snout. Rao (1920) examined
the syntypes of G. kangrae and reported 35 scales
on lateral line and 3 1/2 scales between lateral line
and anal-fin origin instead of 34 and 5, respec-
tively, as reported in the original description.
Taking into consideration data from both the
original description and Rao (1920), G. kangrae
can be differentiated from G. chakpiensis and
G. ukhrulensis in having a snout with a proboscis
and a transverse lobe (vs. smooth surface); in
having (vs. lacking) scales extending forward on
the chest in the form of a triangle, its vertex point-
ing forward; fewer lateral-line scales (35 vs. 38-
41), and transverse scale rows between lateral line
and anal-fin origin (3 1/2 vs. 4-5).
M’Clelland (1839) described Gonorhynchus
caudatus from the Mishmee Mountains, with the
following combination of characters: snout with
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
318
b c
Fig. 6.  Garra prashadi, ZSI F9971/1(3), syntype, 75.5 mm SL; India: Uttar Pradesh: Malwa Tal; a, lateral view;
b, dorsal view of head;  and c, mental adhesive disc.
pores and warts, divided by a horizontal fissure;
barbels absent; a black spot at the base of the
caudal fin; lateral-line scales 34; transverse scale
rows between pelvic fin and dorsum 8; and
lower lobe of the caudal fin longer than the upper
lobe. Menon (1964) considered G. caudatus as a
junior synonym of G. nasuta. On the basis of their
respective original descriptions, the former is
distinct from the later in having a snout with
pores and warts, divided by a horizontal fissure
(vs. snout abruptly depressed between the eyes
with a large pit between the nares). Garra caudatus
sensu M’Clelland is also distinguished from
G. chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis in the presence
(vs. absence) of pores and warts, with a horizon-
tal fissure on the snout; presence (vs. absence) of
a black spot at the base of the caudal fin; and in
having fewer lateral-line scales (34 vs. 38-41), and
transverse scale rows between dorsum and pelvic
fin (8 vs. 10-11).
Based on the original descriptions, we can
find out characters distinguishing some of these
nominal species (viz. Gonorhynchus brachypterus,
Mayoa modesta, Discognathus macrochir, Gonorhyn­
chus caudatus, Garra kangrae) from the species
which have been considered senior synonyms.
 
However, pending examination of the specimens
of these nominal species, we are unable to com-
ment on the validity of these species.
Hora (1921) described G. chaudhurii from the
Darjeeling district in Bengal. Menon (1964) syn-
onymized it with G. annandalei. The holotype (ZSI
F 8146/1) and two paratypes (ZSI F 8147-8148)
of G. chaudhurii are in a poor state of preservation.
A comparison based on the data from the types
and the original description shows G. chaudhurii
to be distinct from G. annandalei in having two
pairs of barbels longer (vs. shorter) than eye di-
ameter; dorsal-fin height equal to (vs. less than)
body height at its origin; scales poorly (vs. well)
developed on abdomen; lateral-line scales 32-33
(vs. 34-35); upper jaw enclosed (vs. exposed); and
the presence of a shallow (vs. deep) sublachrymal
groove. Garra chaudhurii is distinct from G. chak­
piensis and G. ukhrulensis in having two pairs of
barbels longer (vs. shorter) than eye diameter;
dorsal-fin height equal to (vs. less than) body
height at its origin; lateral-line scales 32-33 (vs.
38-41); and head narrowly (vs. broadly) rounded.
M’Clelland (1839) described Gonorhynchus
bimaculatus from the Laeeh River, Mishmee
Mountains; M’Clelland also treated Hamilton’s
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
b c
Fig. 7.  Garra jenkinsonianum, holotype, ZSI F5736/1, 55.5 mm SL; India: Paresnath hills; a, lateral view; b, dorsal
view of head; c, mental adhesive disc.
unpublished figure of G. lamta (Hamilton, 1822:
343) as his G. bimaculatus, making it a syntype;
Hamilton’s figure was reproduced by M’Clelland
(1839: pl. 43 fig. 2). Günther (1868) and Menon
(1964) listed G. bimaculatus as a junior synonym
of G. lamta and G. gotyla, respectively. Since the
specimen figured by M’Clelland (1839: pl. 43
fig. 2; reproduction of Hamilton’s unpublished
drawing) is part of the type series of both nomi-
nal species, Kottelat (2013) designated this spec-
imen as the lectotype of both G. bimaculatus and
G. lamta, thus making the two names objective
synonyms, with the same type locality. Hamilton
(1822) described Garra lamta, the type species of
the genus Garra, under the generic name Cyprinus
based on materials collected from two localities,
i.e., from rivulets, with rocky bottom in the prov-
ince of Bihar, and in the Rapti River of the Gorakh­
pur district. The identity of G. lamta remains
unclear as the lectotype has not been preserved,
and a neotype designation might become neces-
sary to diagnose it from its congeners.
Menon (1964) redescribed G. lamta based on
specimens from the Rapti, Tinau, Tista, and Kosi
Rivers in the Himalayan foot hill regions. To add
to the confusion, he described the species to have
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4
319
a transverse lobe on the snout demarcated by a
deep transverse groove and a patch of horny
tubercles on each side of the snout while the
original description did not mention about the
presence of a transverse lobe and tubercles on the
snout. However, the original description shows
the species to have the following characters: 2
simple and 8 branched dorsal-fin rays; 2 simple
and 5 branched anal-fin rays; 13 pectoral-fin rays;
9 pelvic-fin rays; 19 caudal-fin rays; caudal fin
with emarginated margin; and a faint spot on the
base of the caudal fin. On the basis of the original
description, G. lamta can be distinguished from
G. chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis in having a forked
(vs. emarginated) caudal fin; in the absence (vs.
presence) of a faint blackish midlateral stripe on
the body and a small rounded black spot at the
upper angle of the gill opening; and in the pres-
ence (vs. absence) of a faint spot at the base of the
caudal fin.
Hora (1921) described G. prashadi from Malwa
Tal in Uttar Pradesh. Menon (1964) considered it
a junior synonym of G. lamta. The three syntypes
of G. prashadi (ZSI F9971/1; Fig. 6a-c) have the
following combination of characters: snout broad-
ly rounded with a mere transverse groove; two
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
320
pairs of barbels shorter than eye diameter; dorsal-
fin height equal to body depth; lateral-line scales
32-33; transverse scale rows between dorsal-fin
origin and lateral line 4 1/2 and scale rows between
anal-fin origin and lateral line 3 1/2; predorsal scales
10; circumpeduncular scale rows 12; a longitudi-
nal black band on the median caudal-fin rays;
several black wavy longitudinal lines on the
caudal peduncle; and interorbital area convex.
However, G. pashadi can be differentiated from
G. lamta sensu Hamilton in having (vs. lacking)
a mere transverse groove on the snout, a longi-
tudinal black band on the median caudal-fin rays,
and a number of black wavy longitudinal lines
on the caudal peduncle.
Hora (1921) described G. jenkinsonianum from
the Ganga River basin in the Sita Nullah, Pares-
nath Hills, Bengal. Menon (1964) synonymized
the species with G. mullya (Sykes, 1841), origi-
nally described from Deccan and considered to
be widely distributed throughout India except
Assam and Himalayas. The distribution of a
rheophilic species both in the Ganga and Deccan
is doubtful. Comparison between the two nomi-
nal species is not possible at present as neither
the types nor topotypic material of G. mullya is
available. Examination of the holotype and
original description of G. jenkinsonianum (ZSI F
5736/1; Fig. 7a-c) show the following combina-
tion of characters: head narrowly rounded, its
length equal to body depth at dorsal-fin origin;
snout smooth, its tip truncate with a transverse
groove interrupted at middle; two pairs of barbels,
shorter than eye diameter; lateral-line scales 33-
34; transverse scale rows between dorsal-fin ori-
gin and lateral line 4 1/2 and scale rows between
lateral line and anal-fin origin 3 1/2; predorsal scales
10-11; circumpeduncular scale rows 16; indistinct
grayish band along the scale row of lateral line.
The holotype of G. jenkinsonianum can be differ-
entiated from G. chakpiensis and G. ukhrulensis in
having fewer lateral-line scales (33-34 vs. 38-41);
in having a snout with a transverse groove inter-
rupted at middle (vs. smooth surface); snout
narrowly truncate (vs. broadly rounded); a deep-
er body (depth 25.2 % SL vs. 16.6-24.1) and head
(depth 17.5 % SL vs. 13.6-16.5); a shorter snout
(43 % HL vs. 46-53); a larger eye (eye diameter
23 % HL vs. 15-23); a longer pectoral fin (25.2 %
SL vs. 17.6-23.0); a shorter prepelvic distance
(50.9 % SL vs. 52.1-56.4); and a more posteriorly-
situated anus (distance from anus to anal fin 32 %
of pelvic-anal distance vs. 34-46).
From the above comparisons of the nominal
species having the types, it is evident that G. chaud­
hurii, G. prashadi, and G.jenkinsonianum are distinct
from the nominal species earlier considered to be
senior synonyms and should be treated as valid.
Comparative material.  Garra abhoyai:  MUMF unreg.,
5, 45.0-53.0 mm SL; India: Manipur: Imphal west dis-
trict: Nambul River at Shingda.
G. annandalei:  RGUMF 0074,15, 55.3-99.0 mm SL;
India: Arunachal Pradesh: West Kameng district: Ka-
meng River at Balukpung.
G. arupi: RGUMF 0184, holotype, 60.0 mm SL;
RGUMF 0185, 15 paratypes, 50.0-72.4 mm SL; India:
Arunachal Pradesh: Lower Divang Valley district:
Deopani River at Roing
G. chaudhurii:  ZSI F 8146-8148, 3 (holotype and 2
paratypes), 49.5-53.0 mm SL; India: West Bengal: Dar-
jeeling district.
G. compressa:  MUMF 2316, holotype, 68.1 mm SL;
MUMF 2314-2315, 2, paratypes, 78.6-83.2 mm SL; India:
Manipur: Ukhrul district: Wanze stream at Khamson.
G. elongata: MUMF 2311, holotype, 86.2 mm SL;
MUMF 2308-2310, 3 paratypes, 72.0- 80.8 mm SL; India:
Manipur: Ukhrul district: a small stream near Tolloi.
G. jenkinsonianum:  ZSI F 5736/1, holotype, 55.5 mm
SL; India: West Bengal: Sita Nullah, Paresnath hills.
G. kempi:  RGUMF 0184, 3, 52.0-56.0 mm SL; India:
Arunachal Pradesh: East Siang district: Egar stream at
Rottung. – MUMF 4314/2, 2, 64.5-65.0 mm SL; India:
Arunachal Pradesh: Lohit district: Demwe stream at
Tezu.
G. lissorhynchus:  MUMF 4163-4166, 4, 67.1-86.2 mm
SL; India: Manipur: Tamenglong district: Iyei River at
Noney.
G. litanensis:  MUMF 68/1, holotype, 92.5 mm SL;
MUMF 69/1-5, 5 paratypes, 69.0-74.0 mm SL; India:
Manipur: Ukhrul district: Litan stream at Litan.
G. manipurensis:  MUMF 130, holotype, 59.8 mm SL;
India: Manipur: Chandel district: Manipur River at
Sherou. – MUMF 4160-4162, 3, 41.9-68.3 mm SL; India:
Manipur: Tamenglong district: Iyei River at Noney.
G. montisalsi:  ZSI F 9953/1, holotype, 103 mm SL;
India: Punjab: Nilwan ravine near Shapur salt ranges.
G. naganensis:  MUMF 4156-4159, 4, 92.3-106.9 mm
SL; India: Manipur: Tamenglong district: Barak River
at Vanchengphai Village. – MUMF unreg, 2, 77.8-
84.4 mm SL; India: Manipur: Churachandpur district:
Tuivai River.
G. paralissorynchus:  MUMF 5054, holotype, 65.9 mm
SL; MUMF 5104-5106, 3, 49.6-59.6 mm SL; India: Ma-
nipur: Churachandpur district: Khuga River.
G. prashadi:  ZSI F 9971/1, 3 syntypes, 63.2-75.5 mm
SL; India: Uttar Pradesh: Malwa Tal.
Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to A. K. Karmakar (ZSI) and D. N. Das
(RGUMF) for giving access to the materials under his
care.
Literature cited
Day, F. 1870. Remarks on some of the fishes in the
Calcutta Museum. Part II. Proceeding of the Gen-
eral Meetings for Scientific Business of the Zoo-
logical Society of London, 1869: 548-560.
— 1871. Monograph of Indian Cyprinidae, Part I.
Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, 40: 95-143.
— 1878. The fishes of India; being a natural history of
the fishes known to inhabit the seas and fresh wa-
ters of India, Burma, and Ceylon. Dawson & Co.,
London, 778 pp.
— 1889. Fauna of British India, including Ceylon and
Burma. Taylor and Francis, London, 1, xviii + 548  pp.
Günther, A. 1868. Catalogue of the fishes in the British
Museum. Vol. 7. British Museum, London, xx
+ 512  pp.
Hamilton, F. 1822. An account of the fishes found in
the river Ganges and its branches. Constable, Ed-
inburgh, 2 vols., vii + 405 pp., 39 pls.
Hora, S. L. 1921. Indian cyprinoid fishes belonging to
the genus Garra, with notes on related species from
other countries. Records of Indian Museum, 22:
633-687.
Jayaram, K. C. 1999. The freshwater fishes of the Indian
region. Narendra Publishing House, Delhi, 551 pp.
Kottelat, M. 2001. Fishes of Laos. Wildlife Heritage Trust,
Colombo, 198 pp.
— 2013. The fishes of the Inland waters of Southeast
Asia: a catalogue and core bibliography of the
fishes known to occur in freshwaters, mangroves
and estuaries. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Supple-
ment, 27: 1-663.
Kullander, S. O. & F. Fang. 2004. Seven new species of
Garra (Cyprinidae: Cyprininae) from the Rakhine
Yoma, southern Myanmar. Ichthyological Explora-
tion of Freshwaters, 15: 257-278.
M’Clelland, M. 1838. Observations on six new species
of Cyprinidae with an outline of a new classification
of the family. Journal of Asiatic Society of Bengal,
Culcutta, 7: 941-948.
— 1839. Indian Cyprinidae. Asiatic Researches, Cal-
cutta, 19: 217-465, pls. 37-54.
Menon, A. G. K. 1964. Monograph of the cyprinid
fishes of the genus Garra, Hamilton. Memoirs of the
Indian Museum, 14: 173-260.
Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters, Vol. 25, No. 4
321
Nebeshwar, K., K. Bagra & D. N. Das. 2012. Garra
kalpangi, a new cyprinid fish species (Pisces: Tele-
ostei) from upper Brahmaputra basin in Arunachal
Pradesh, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa, 4:
2353-2362.
Nebeshwar, K. & W. Vishwanath. 2013. Three new spe-
cies of Garra (Pisces: Cyprinidae) from north-eastern
India and redescription of G. gotyla. Ichthyological
Exploration of Freshwaters, 24: 97-120.
Prashad, B. 1919. On a new species of Discognathus from
the Kangra valley.Records of the Indian Museum,
16: 163-165.
Rao, C. R. N. 1920. On new cyprinoid fishes from
Mysore: some new species of cyprinoid fish from
Mysore. Annals and Magazine of Natural History,
Ser. 9, 6: 45-64, pls. 1-2.
Roberts, T. R. 1989. The freshwater fishes of western
Borneo (Kalimantan Barat, Indonesia). Memoirs of
the California Academy of Sciences, 14: 1-210.
Shangningam, B. &W. Vishwanath. 2012. Validation of
Garra namyaensis Shangningam & Vishwanath, 2012
(Teleostei: Cyprinidae: Labeoninae). Ichthyological
Exploration of Freshwaters, 23: 10.
Stiassny, M. L. J. & A. Getahun. 2007. An overview of
Labeonin relationships and the phylogenetic place-
ment of the Afro-Asian genus Garra Hamilton, 1922
(Teleostei: Cyprinidae), with the description of five
new species of Garra from Ethiopia, and a key to
all African species. Zoological Journal of the Lin-
nean Society, 150: 41-83.
Talwar, P. K. & A. G. Jhingran. 1991. Inland fishes of
the India and adjacent countries. Oxford & IBH
Publishing, New Delhi, 541 pp.
Vishwanath, W. & I. Linthoingambi. 2008. Redescription
of Garra abhoyai Hora (Teleostei: Cyprinidae: Gar-
rinae) with a note on Garra rupecula from Manipur,
India. Journal of the Bombay Natural History So-
ciety, 105: 101-104.
Zhang, E. 2005. Garra bispinosa, a new species of cypri-
nid fish (Teleostei: Cypriniformes) from Yunnan,
Southwest China. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, Sup-
plement 13: 9-15.
— 2006. Garra rotundinasus, a new species of cyprinid
fish (Pisces: Teleostei) from the upper Irrawaddy
River basin, China. Raffles Bulletin of Zoology, 54:
447-453.
Zhang, E. & M. Kottelat. 2006. Akrokolioplax, a new
genus of Southeast Asian labeonine fishes (Teleostei:
Cyprinidae). Zootaxa, 1225: 21-30.
Received 19 December 2013
Revised 29 December 2014
Accepted 14 January 2015
 Copyright © Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil
322

Nebeshwar & Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra

Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters
An international journal for field-orientated ichthyology
INSTRUCTIONS TO CONTRIBUTORS
Warning
Prospective authors should read carefully the following instructions and
follow them when submitting a manuscript. Doing so significantly hastens
publication and saves money and efforts. Manuscripts which do not satisfy
the instructions below may be rejected at the Editor’s discretion and will
not be returned.
Submission of manuscripts
The original manuscript should be sent to the Editor, Maurice Kottelat,
by e-mail (mkottelat@dplanet.ch). Additional information is requested:
1)  the name, postal and e-mail addresses, telephone and fax numbers
of the corresponding author;
2)  the names, postal and e-mail addresses of up to four persons outside
the authors’ institutions who are qualified to review the paper; and
3)  a statement that the material has not been published and is not consid-
ered for publication elsewhere and that it will not be submitted elsewhere
unless it is rejected or withdrawn. In submitting a manuscript, the author(s)
accept(s) transfer of the copyright to the Publisher.
Co-authors, corresponding author
Authors are those who have played a significant role in designing and
conducting the research and in writing the manuscript. Individuals who
have only collected data, provided material or financial support, or re-
viewed the manuscript should be listed in acknowledgments. Honorary
authorship is not accepted.
Co-authors should designate a single corresponding author to whom
correspondence and proofs will be sent. All correspondence regarding the
paper should go through the corresponding author. Correspondence will not
be sent to other co-authors and correspondence from other co-authors re-
garding the manuscript will neither be answered nor taken into consideration.
Format
Files.  The manuscript should be submitted in DOC or RTF format only.
The text, captions, tables etc. must all be included in the same file. It the
manuscript includes only a few illustrations, include them in low resolution
in the word file. If the manuscript includes numerous illustrations they must
be submitted in a separate PDF file; send all figures in low resolution and
with caption in a single file. The files should be less than 8 MB.
Text.  All manuscripts are subject to editorial revision before final acceptance
for publication. Nothing in the manuscript should be underlined. Titles with
numerical series designations are not permitted. Titles should be brief,
fewer than 20 words and should indicate clearly the field of study and
the group of fishes investigated. All abbreviations should be explained in
the Method section (or figure caption when appropriate) or a reference to
published explanations should be provided; exceptions are very common
abbreviations, such as mm, km, kg, sec, min, yr, vs., SL. Footnotes are
not permitted. All measurements must be in metric units. The first page
should include: title of the paper, author(s), addresses and abstract, all
left justified. The text should be followed by Material Examined (if ap-
propriate), Acknowledgments (if any), Appendix (if any) and Literature
Cited, in that order. Keys are desirable in taxonomic papers. They should
be dichotomous and not serially indented.
Nomenclature.  Names of living organisms should follow the appropriate
and current International Codes of Nomenclature. Only formal names of
genera and species should be written in italics. Names of authors and pub-
lication dates of scientific names should be mentioned once, in introduction
or discussion, depending where most convenient, exceptionally as a table;
bibliographical references must be included in the Literature cited section.
Very old and classical works can be omitted if not absolutely justified.
Language. Manuscripts should be written in English. All papers must
have a concise but informative abstract in English. In taxonomic papers,
the abstract must include at least clear diagnosis of the new taxa. This
maybe omitted for papers including the descriptions of many new taxa;
consult the editor first. A second abstract, provided by the author(s), in
the language of the country or area concerned by the text is acceptable.
A maximum of two abstracts is permitted.
Acknowledgments.  Identify individuals by first name(s) and surname. Do
not list titles, position or institution. Acknowledge individuals, not positions.
Idiosyncrasy and private jokes are not permitted.
Literature cited.  Format for Literature Cited is that of the most recent
issue. Do not abbreviate the names of journals. For books, give full name
of publishing company or institution, and city. Manuscripts in preparation,
abstracts, in-house reports and other literature not obtainable through
normal library channels cannot be cited. In-press manuscripts can be
cited only if they have been formally accepted.
Tables.  Tables should be included in the text file, at the end. Use Word
format and do not anchor them. Tables must be numbered sequentially
with Arabic numerals; they should have concise but self-explanatory head-
ings. Do not insert frames, vertical rules, dotted lines or footnotes. The
location of first citation of each table should be clearly indicated in the text.
Figures.  Detailed instructions for the preparation of digital images are
here: http://pfeil-verlag.de/div/eimag.php
For the submission of new manuscript only low resolution copies are
needed. Do not send large files at this stage. Case by case, if needed, we
may ask you to send the original files at the time of submission.
All maps, graphs, charts, drawings and photographs are regarded as
figures and are to be numbered consecutively and in the sequence of
their first citation in the text. When several charts or photographs are
grouped as one figure, they must be trimmed and spaced as intended
for final reproduction. Each part of such a group figure should be lettered
with a lower case block letter in the lower left corner. Where needed, scale
should be indicated on the figure by a scale bar.
All illustrations should be designed to fit a width of 68 or 140 mm and a
depth no greater than 200 mm. Lettering should be large enough to be
easily seen when reduced onto a journal column (68 mm).
If a vector-graphics program is used, the original files saved by this
program and all linked files must be submitted. Do not export or save the
figure in a different format (for more details see the informations on http://
pfeil-verlag.de/div/eimag.php
If line drawings are scanned, the resolution must be 1200 dpi or more
and the format must be bitmap (1 pixel = 1 bit).
If halftones are scanned, the resolution should never be lower than 400 dpi,
applied to a width of 14 cm, even for photographs designed for column width.
Photographic prints and slides and original drawings must be scanned
for submission. We will ask to send the original after acceptance of the
manuscript.
Colour illustrations should preferably be submitted as slides (photographic
slides, not slides prepared by a printer). Digital images should be only
unmodified (raw) data files as originally saved by the camera or the
scanner. If the data files are modified, a copy of the original, unmodified
file should be submitted too.
The decision to print in colour or in black and white any figure originally
submitted in colour remains with the editor and publisher. This decision
will be based on scientific justification, quality of the original, layout and
other editorial, financial and production constraints. By submitting colour
originals, the authors know and accept that they may be published in black
and white.
Review
Each manuscript will be sent to two reviewers for confidential evalua-
tion. When justified, the reviewer’s comments will be forwarded to the
corresponding author. When submitting a revised manuscript, authors
should briefly indicate the reasons for disregarding any suggestion they
consider unacceptable. Remember that if a reviewer had questions or did
not understand you, other readers may make the same experience and
the answers should be in the manuscript and not in a letter to the editor.
Changes in style, format and layout requested by the Editor are non-
negotiable and non-observance will result in rejection of the manuscript.
Revised manuscripts received more than 6 months after the reviewers’
comments had been sent will not be considered or will be treated as new
submissions.
Proofs, Reprints and Page Charges
A PDF proof file will be sent to the corresponding author; it should be
checked and returned to the Editor within one week. If corrections are not
received within this delay, they may be done by the Editor, at the author’s
risks. Authors may be charged for any changes other than printer’s error.
Reprint orders must be forwarded with the corrections. The correspond-
ing author is responsible for contacting the co-authors and forwarding
their reprint orders.
The authors will receive a PDF file for personal use free of charge;
high-resolution PDF files for unlimited use may be ordered. There will be
no page charges and no charges for justified colour illustrations.
 Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters
An international journal for field-orientated ichthyology

Volume 25 • Number 4 • March 2015

CONTENTS

Kawase, Seigo and Kazumi Hosoya:  Pseudorasbora pugnax, a new species of minnow from
Japan, and redescription of P. pumila (Teleostei: Cyprinidae).............................................. 289
He, Anyou, Wei Huang, You He and Jian Yang:  Cophecheilus brevibarbatus, a new labeonine
fish from Guangxi, South China (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)...................................................... 299
Nebeshwar, Kongbrailatpam and Waikhom Vishwanath:  Two new species of Garra (Pisces:
Cyprinidae) from the Chindwin River basin in Manipur, India, with notes on some
nominal Garra species of the Himalayan foothills.................................................................. 305
Premananda, Nongthombam, Laishram Kosygin and Bano Saidullah:  Glyptothorax senapa-
tiensis, a new species of catfish (Teleostei: Sisoridae) from Manipur, India...................... 323
Sinha, Bikramjit and Lakpa Tamang:  Oreoglanis pangenensis, a new species of torrent catfish
from Arunachal Pradesh, India (Siluriformes: Sisoridae)..................................................... 331
Mousavi-Sabet, Hamed, Golnaz Sayyadzadeh, Hamid Reza Esmaeili, Soheil Eagderi, Rah-
man Patimar and Jörg Freyhof: Paracobitis hircanica, a new crested loach from the
southern Caspian Sea basin (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae)....................................................... 339
Conway, Kevin W. and Ralf Britz:  Psilorhynchus olliei, a new species of torrent minnow
from eastern Myanmar (Ostariophysi: Psilorhynchidae)...................................................... 347
Kullander, Sven O.:  Taxonomy of chain Danio, an Indo-Myanmar species assemblage, with
descriptions of four new species (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)..................................................... 357
Saç, Gülsah and Müfit Özulug:  New data on the distribution and conservation status of
Phoxinus strandjae (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)............................................................................... 381

Cover photograph
Pseudorasbora pugnax (photograph by Toshihiko Morimune)
Seigo Kawase and Kazumi Hosoya
(this volume pp. 289-298)

Articles appearing in this journal are indexed in:

AQUATIC SCIENCES and FISHERIES ABSTRACTS

BIOLIS - BIOLOGISCHE LITERATUR INFORMATION SENCKENBERG
CAMBRIDGE SCIENTIFIC ABSTRACTS
CURRENT CONTENTS/AGRICULTURE, BIOLOGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES and SCIE
FISHLIT
ZOOLOGICAL RECORD