Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Aphaniidae (Oriental killifishes)
Etymology: Paraphanius: Name from the Greek word 'Para' meaning 'near, resembling', and Aphanius, from the Greek word 'Aphanus' meaning 'invisible', a genus of tooth-carp fish, referring to its phylogenetic position being sister to Aphanius and Aphaniops (Ref. 125310).
More on author: Heckel.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory. Subtropical; 10°C - 25°C (Ref. 2060)
Asia: Iran, Iraq, Syria, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon and Turkey.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.0 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27139)
Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 14; Anal soft rays: 9 - 13; Vertebrae: 25 - 26. This species is distinguished by the following: scales along the body 23-28; D 9-14: A 9-13; pectoral fins 12-16; pelvic fin rays 4-6; total gill rakers 11-15; jaw teeth display a long middle cusp and short lateral cusps; otoliths triangular in shape, have a prominent rostrum, and a straight sulcus; vertebrae 25-26, in the vertebral column with 5 preural vertebrae (PU1–5) with long haemal and neural spines, the presence of a small plate in front of the spines of PU5, flank scales are squarish to a vertical oval in general shape; no pelvic axillary scale; gut is s-shaped (Ref. 125310).
Found in shallow water among vegetation, where it feeds on insect larvae, crustaceans, and algae. Breeds during the warmer months of the year. (Ref. 13609). 8 cm max TL (Ref. 11028). Not a seasonal killifish. Is easy to maintain in the aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Esmaeili, H.R., A. Teimori, F. Zarei and G. Sayyadzadeh, 2020. DNA barcoding and species delimitation of the Old World tooth-carps, family Aphaniidae Hoedeman, 1949 (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). PLoS One 15(4):e0231717 (Ref. 125310)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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