Diagnosis: Garra quadrimaculata is distinguished from African congeners by the following combination of features: well developed papillate disc; fully scaled predorsum, chest, belly and postpelvic regions; vent positioned very close to anal fin; and long intestine (Ref. 58532).

Description: Body gracile, greatest body depth located at level of pelvic-fin tips (Ref. 58532). Head somewhat depressed, with characteristic tuberculation consisting of large rounded tubercles concentrated in rows around nostrils; eyes positioned medially on head (Ref. 58532). Dorsal head profile rises steeply over snout; dorsum of head more-or-less contiguous with dorsal body profile and smoothly convex to dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 58532). Disc well-developed, with a wide free posterior margin, and abundant papillae on lower lip and around disc periphery; disc length 22.8-26.8% of head length, wider than long, its width 34.4-47.3% of head length; rostral cap well developed, extending ventrally over upper jaw and with invecked ventral margin (Ref. 58532). Two pairs of barbels; maxillary barbels usually slightly longer than rostral pair (Ref. 58532). Between 33 and 35 scales along lateral line; predorsal region fully scaled; 3.5 scales from lateral line to origin of pelvic fin; 3.5-4 scales from lateral line to dorsal-fin origin; belly, chest and postpelvic regions fully scaled; scales often small and deeply embedded (Ref. 58532). Dorsal fin with iii,7 rays, inserted well anterior to pelvic fin, with subacuminate tip, first and second unbranched rays longest; anal fin with iii,5 rays, blunt tip; pectoral fin with iv,11 rays, its length 19.0-19.6% of standard length, with pointed tips (Ref. 58532). Predorsal length 47.4-49.7% of standard length (Ref. 58532). Vent located very close to anal fin (Ref. 58532).

Colouration: The body colour of Garra cf. quadrimaculata is greyish-yellow, darker on back; fine dark line along middle of sides ending in oblong blotch at hind part of caudal peduncle; base of dorsal fin with black spots (Ref. 2940, 81282).