On the African continent, the genus Garra consists of several species often insufficiently separated from each other by diagnostic characters. Herein, a detailed morphological redescription of Garra makiensis from the Awash River drainage is presented, together with additional data on the type specimens of G. makiensis and G. rothschildi. Mitochondrial CO1 sequence data are also provided, including the historic paralectotype of G. makiensis, with a comparison to Garra species from Africa and the Middle East. Based on these sequences, G. makiensis clusters outside the group of African congeners and is a sister lineage to species from the south-east of the Arabian Peninsula. Although morphologically variable, G. makiensis is characterised by having a single unbranched pectoral-fin ray, a short distance between vent and anal-fin origin (7.3-19.7 % of pelvic - anal distance), chest and belly covered with scales, and a prominent axillary scale at base of pelvic fin (18.8-35.5 % of pelvic-fin length).

Department of Ecology Faculty of Science Charles University Viničná 7 CZ 12844 Prague 2 Czech Republic Charles University Prague Czech Republic

National Fisheries and Aquatic Life Research Centre P O Box 64 Sebeta Ethiopia National Fisheries and Aquatic Life Research Centre Sebeta Ethiopia

Natural History Museum Vienna Burgring 7 A 1010 Vienna Austria Natural History Museum Vienna Austria

University of Graz Institute of Biology Universitätsplatz 2 A 8010 Graz Austria University of Graz Graz Austria

University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Institute of Hydrobiology and Aquatic Ecosystem Management Vienna Gregor Mendel Straße 33 A 1180 Vienna Austria University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna Austria

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