Iraq blind barb

Not to be confused with Iran cave barb.

Iraq blind barb
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Cypriniformes
Family:	Cyprinidae
Genus:	Garra
Species:	G. widdowsoni
Binomial name
Garra widdowsoni (Trewavas, 1955)
Synonyms
Typhlogarra widdowsoni Trewavas, 1955

Garra widdowsoni, commonly known as the Iraq blind barb or Haditha cave garra, is a species of cyprinid fish endemic to underground water systems near Haditha in Iraq.^[1][2] Although traditionally placed in its own genus Typhlogarra, this is not supported by genetic evidence,^[3][4] leading to its move to genus Garra.^[2] This cavefish is considered critically endangered because of water extraction, which has lowered the groundwater level.^[1] Once abundant, a survey in 2012 found that it now was very rare.^[1] Another species from the same place, Caecocypris basimi, may already be extinct.^[5] The only other known cavefish in Iraq is Eidinemacheilus proudlovei.^[6]

References

1. Freyhof, J. (2018) [amended version of 2014 assessment]. "Garra widdowsoni". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T22601A135918807. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T22601A135918807.en. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Garra widdowsoni". FishBase. October 2011 version.
3. Hamidan, N.H.; M.F. Geiger; J. Freyhof (2014). "Garra jordanica, a new species from the Dead Sea basin with remarks on the relationship of G. ghorensis, G. tibanica and G. rufa (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)". Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwaters. 25 (3): 223–236.
4. Esmaeli, H.R.; G. Sayyadzadeh; B.W. Coad; S. Eagderi. "Review of the genus Garra Hamilton, 1822 in Iran with description of a new species: a morpho-molecular approach (Teleostei: Cyprinidae)". Iran. J. Ichthyol. 3 (2): 82–121.
5. Freyhof, J. (2014). "Caecocypris basimi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T3450A19006223. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T3450A19006223.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
6. Freyhof, J.; Abdullah, Y.S.; Ararat, K.; Ibrahim, H.; & Geiger, M.F. (2016): Eidinemacheilus proudlovei, a new subterranean loach from Iraqi Kurdistan (Teleostei; Nemacheilidae). Zootaxa, 4173 (3): 225-236.