The Dembea Stone Lapper (Garra dembeensis) is also called the Cameroon Logsucker. It is a freshwater ray-finned fish from Africa, related to the minnow.
The Dembea Stone Lapper is a small bottom-dwelling fish, living on the river bed, but also sometimes on the surface. It has an elongated grey body, rounded head, and a forked tail. It has small suckers with no barbels around its mouth. It has round orange eyes with large black pupils.
Dembea Stone Lapper
It grows to about 11 centimetres (4.5 inches) long.
The Dembea Stone Lapper is from central Africa (Cameroon and Chad); in west Africa (Nigeria); east Africa (Ethiopia, Kenya and Tanzania); and also in Egypt.
It is commonly found in rapid freshwater rivers, and in Lake Victoria.
It sucks stones and rocks to feed on algae, aquatic animals, and insects. It is an algae-cleaner.
Dembea Stone Lapper
Dembea Stone Lapper
Dembea Stone Lapper
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM