Garra arupi Nebeshwar, Vishwanath & Das, 2009

Thoni, R. J., Gurung, D. B. & Mayden, R. L., 2016, A review of the genus Garra Hamilton 1822 of Bhutan, including the descriptions of two new species and three additional records (Cypriniformes: Cyprinidae), Zootaxa 4169 (1), pp. 115-132 : 116-118

Garra arupi Nebeshwar, Vishwanath & Das, 2009

( Figs. 1 & 2 )

Garra arupi Nebeshwar, Vishwanath & Das 2009: 198 . Type locality: Deopani River at Roing, Lower Divang Valley, Arunachal Pradesh, India. Holotype: RGUMF-0184.

Material examined. 6 Specimens, CNR 11061, CNR 11062, CNR 11063, CNR 11064, CNR 11066, CNR 11999, 57.9 –88.6 mm SL, Bhutan: Dagana Dzongkhag: Serichhu River in Salamji Gewog, D.B. Gurung, May 2011 ; 2 Specimens, CNR 13032, CNR 13033, 49.9 –51.0 mm SL, Bhutan: Dagana Dzongkhag: Serichhu River in Salamji Gewog, R.J. Thoni & D.B. Gurung, September 21, 2013 ; 3 Specimens, CNR 13111, CNR 13025-13026, 50.4 –66.7 mm SL; Bhutan: Sarpang Dzongkhag: Laringkhola River in Gakiling Gewog, D.B. Gurung & R.J. Thoni, September 24, 2013 .

Remarks. When live, this species is most easily diagnosed by coloration characters, appearing bright orange or red on the lips, and the anterior edge the dorsal, anal, and paired fins, as well as on the upper and lower caudalfin margin. Significant diagnostic traits on preserved specimens include an anteriorly placed vent, separate anterolateral lobe, medial caudal-fin stripe, submarginal stripe on the dorsal fin, and seven branched dorsal-fin rays. A weakly developed transverse groove and proboscis with few tubercles is similar to that of G. gotyla but is less pronounced in G. a r u p i.

This species was collected primarily in central Bhutan, in tributaries of the Punatsangchhu and Laringkhola rivers. They are found in mid-elevation streams typically above 200 m and below 1000 m. They tend to be found in runs, riffles, and torrents, with few encounters in pools, with the exception of larvae and juveniles, which prefer the gravel substrate of pools. They were frequently sampled in sympatry with Barilius , Neolissochilus , Psilorhynchus , and Schistura .

Figures

FIGURE 1. Garra arupi. CNR 11066, 72.3 mm SL; Bhutan: Dagana Dzongkhag: Serichhu near confluence with Punatsangchhu, R. J. Thoni & D. B. Gurung, September, 2013.

FIGURE 2. Live specimen Garra arupi. CNR 11063, 66.4 mm SL; Bhutan: Dagana Dzongkhag: Serichhu near confluence with Punatsangchhu, R. J. Thoni & D. B. Gurung, September, 2013.