Diagnosis: This species is unique among African Garra in possession of 2 simple and 13 branched rays on the pectoral fin and 1 simple and 8 branched rays on the pelvic fin (Ref. 84041). In addition, it is distinguished from African congeners by the following combination of features: well-developed, large papillate type C disc; fully scaled predorsal region and scaled post pelvic region; unscaled chest and belly; vent located close to anal fin, vent distance 13.2-24.2% of the distance between anal and pelvic fin origins; and intestine long, standard length 28.4-42.0% of intestine length (Ref. 84041).

Description: Body relatively cylindrical, its depth 21.0-24.4% of standard length, greatest body depth located at levels of dorsal fin origin (Ref. 84041). Head moderately short, head length 22.1-26.1% of standard length, and depressed; height less than width and width less than head length; dorsal head profile rises steeply over snout, then more or less smoothy convex to dorsal fin origin; rostral cap well developed, extending ventrally over upper jaw and with indented ventral margin (Ref. 84041). Dorsal profile of body slightly convex from tip of supraoccipital process to dorsal fin origin; dorsal-fin base almost straight, sloped posteroventrally; profile from end of dorsal fin base to caudal fin straight or somewhat concave; ventral profile of body gently rounded from pectoral- to pelvic-fin origin, and slightly concave from pelvic origin to caudal fin tip; anal fin base nearly straight, posterodorsally inclined; profile between posterior end of anal-fin base to caudal fin slightly concave (Ref. 84041). Eyes small, placed dorsolaterally, and anteriorly positioned, closer to tip of the snout than to the posterior margin of the operculum, and visible from top (Ref. 84041). Well developed type C disk, with free posterior and lateral margins; two pairs of minute barbels; rostral ones positioned at the anterior of the ventrally expanded rostral cap, shorter than eye diameter; maxillary ones at corner of mouth, shorter than eye diameter (Ref. 84041). Lateral line complete, directed backward medially along caudal peduncle with 34-36 scales; longitudinal scale rows above lateral line 4-4.5 and below lateral line 4-4.5; predorsal scales 14-15, smaller than flank scales; chest and belly asquamate; post pelvic region scaled with 4-6 scales (Ref. 84041). Vent placed closer to anal fin origin than to pelvic fin origin; vent distance 13.2-24.2% of distance between the origin of the anal fin and the pelvic fin insertion (Ref. 84041). Dorsal fin with 3 simple and 7 branched rays; third simple and first branched rays longest; distal margin slightly concave; origin slightly closer to snout tip than to caudal fin base; inserted in advance of pelvic fin origin; its length less than head length, slightly shorter than pectoral fin; pectoral fin with 2 simple and 13 branched rays; third branched ray longest; pelvic fin with 1 simple and 8 branched rays; second branched ray longest; its length less than head length; its origin closer to anal fin than to pectoral fin origin; anal fin with 2 simple and 5 branched rays, second simple and first branched rays longest; origin closer to caudal fin than pelvic fin origin; caudal fin forked, its longest rays less than 2 times as long as its shortest rays (Ref. 84041).

Colouration: In live specimens body dark dorsally, light coloured below lateral line, fins dusky brown; faint submarginal band of black pigment in membrane between rays, flanks with slightly bluish colouration, three to five small black spots between rays in basal membrane of dorsal fin; characteristically well-developed, distinct black spot present just behind operculum, on the first lateral line scale (Ref. 84041). In preserved specimens, body dark dorsally, creamy yellow-brown below lateral line and ventrally; head, snout, and most of cheek, and operculum dark brown; pale colouration extends postero-dorsally around eye; distinct light dark spot on the first lateral line scale behind operculum; dorsal fin membrane light dark, faint submarginal band of black pigment in membrane between rays; anal fin pale creamy white; pectoral fin uniformly pale creamy white with faint submarginal band of black pigment in membrane between rays; pelvic fin pale creamy white (Ref. 84041).