New species of Arabian freshwater fish discovered in Oman
27/05/2009 09:17:15
New species of fish, Garra Smarti, discovered in Oman. Credit EWS
GARRA SMARTI - Species named after local UAE PHD student, Emma Smart - May 2009. A new species of Arabian freshwater fish, Garra Smarti, has been discovered in Southern Oman by Emma Smart, a UAE-based PHD student and member of the Emirates Wildlife Society - WWF (EWS-WWF) team. To date there are only sixteen recorded species of primary freshwater fish throughout the entire Arabian Peninsula, highlighting the importance of the discovery and underpinning the unique and high ecological value of Arabian wadi ecosystems.
Wadi Wuraya
Smart is currently involved in EWS-WWF's Wadi Wuraya project where she is studying the ecology of another species of related freshwater fish, Garra barremiae, which is endemic to the UAE Mountains. "So little has been studied regarding freshwater ecosystems of the UAE and Arabian Peninsula as a whole and I hope to learn a great deal about the ecology of these fascinating habitats and their wildlife," concluded Smart.
"This is an extremely exciting discovery and I am thrilled that my project and research has lead to uncovering this species,"
Wadi Wuraya, the location of the discovery. Credit EWS.
added Smart. "The find proves how little we know about the region and how much potential wildlife remains to be discovered. In order to conserve the natural ecosystem in the region it is vital that we continue to learn more about them and the species that reside in them. I plan to continue my research across the region which may lead to further discoveries in the future."
Having studied for a degree in Marine Biology at the University of Liverpool where she graduated with honours and won the Ellis award for Freshwater Biology, Smart's subsequent post-graduate research at the University of St. Andrews involved conservation and environmental survey work on endangered freshwater fish species and their habitats in the arid regions of central Mexico.
Cycle of life
Smart has spent two years working in Dubai where she was employed as Scientific Advisor and Production Manager on Arabia's first wildlife documentary series 'The Cycle of Life'. This involved planning filming and research expeditions and spending over 10 months travelling across Oman, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Yemen and the United Arab Emirates. Throughout this time Smart carried out baseline surveys of wadi habitats and their freshwater fish populations and it was this initial research and a passion for Arabia that gave rise to establishing the 'Wadi Fish' project and subsequent discovery of Garra Smarti.
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