Iraq blind barb

Not to be confused with Iran cave barb.

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]

Iraq blind barb
Conservation status
Critically Endangered  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
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