Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin (ISSN 0178 – 6288) . Number 103, July 2013, pp. 1-25. | Page 7

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in size and weight from May to July. Different individuals release eggs and sperm at different times. Average egg diameter was 0.67 mm, maximum 1.98 mm, with highest diameter in May and the lowest in November. Absolute and relative fecundity were 1179.65 and 109.4 respectively on average. Maximum absolute fecundity reached 3794 eggs. The Iranian Kangir River fish had a maximum fecundity of 13,927 eggs and a maximum relative fecundity of 2345.72 eggs/g. Egg diameters reached 1.7 mm. Reproduction occurred in April-May with the highest average gonadosomatic index for males of 4.21 in April and for females of 7.85 in May (Coad, 2013).

The Palestine Doctor Fish Discoverer Prof. Dr. Sc. Norman Ali Bassam Khalaf-von Jaffa examining the fish at Ain Al Basa Spring, Wadi Qana Nature Reserve, Salfit Governorate, State of Palestine. 08.07.2013. Photograph by: Nora Norman Ali Khalaf. http://www.flickr.com/photos/50022881@N00/9477944356/

Food
Garra rufa is omnivorous and feeds on organic detritus, filamentous algae, diatoms, copepods, arthropods and insects. This species is a grazer on aquatic plants, mostly consisting of benthic cyanobacteria, chrysophytes and phytoplankton with included rotifers and protozoans. Both season and location
Gazelle : The Palestinian Biological Bulletin – Number 103 – July 2013