Diagnosis: Garra makiensis is distinguished from African congeners by the following combination of features: well-developed, large papillate disc; scaled predorsal and postpelvic regions; chest and belly with a few non-overlapping scales over chest and belly; vent located very close to anal fin; and intestine very long (Ref. 58532).

Description: Robust and deep-bodied, greatest body depth well in advance of dorsal-fin origin at mid-level of pectoral-fin (Ref. 58532). Head robust, moderately depressed, snout large and prominent, studded with variously sized tubercles in both sexes; eyes positioned either medially or slightly posteriorly in large specimens (Ref. 58532). Dorsal head profile rises steeply over snout, dorsum of head smoothly rounded and contiguous with dorsal body profile, which is steeply convex to dorsal-fin origin (Ref. 58532). Disc fleshy and well-developed, with wide free posterior and lateral margins; numerous batteries of papillae over lower lip and around disc periphery; disc slightly wider than long; wide free posterior margin studded with large and conspicuous papillae; rostral fold very well developed and ventrally downgrown to lower lip, with invecked ventral margin (Ref. 58532). Two pairs of barbels; rostral barbels well-developed and longer than maxillary pair (Ref. 58532). Between 35 and 37 scales along lateral line; predorsum scaled with 14 to 15 scales anterior to dorsal fin; either 3 or 4 scales from lateral line to origin of pelvic fins; 3.5-4.5 scales from lateral line to dorsal-fin origin; predorsal and postpelvic regions scaled; belly with some large, non-overlapping scales embedded in skin; chest asquamate (Ref. 58532). Dorsal fin with iv,7 rays, inserted well in advance of pelvic fin, with short subacuminate tip, first and second unbranched rays longest extending to last ray; anal fin with iv,4-5 rays, with pointed tip; pectoral fin with iv,11 rays, its length 15.3-24.3% of standard length, large with somewhat pointed tips (Ref. 58532). Predorsal length 43.6-50.6% of standard length (Ref. 58532). Vent close to anal fin (Ref. 58532).

Colouration: Either dark brown or brownish-black; somewhat paler along lower third of body and ventral surface either uniformly pale creamy yellow or orange; faint traces of a darker midlateral band often discernable on flanks and caudal peduncle (Ref. 58532). Dorsal fin usually uniformly pale dusky grey-brown, usually with no clearly demarcated black submarginal band; between 3 and 5 small black spots between rays in basal membrane of dorsal fin; anal fin usually uniformly pale creamy brown, sometimes with faint submarginal band of dusky brown pigment; caudal fin uniformly pale dusky grey-brown; pelvic and pectoral fins pale brownish-grey with pale cream leading edges (Ref. 58532).