Aphaniops teimorii, Freyhof & Yogurtcuoglu, 2020

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 731-732

Aphaniops teimorii

Common name. Hormuz killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Aphaniops in West Asia. ○ female with a narrow and long bar at caudal base / ○ male with 12–17 brown bars on flank / ○ male with 2–3 bold, crescent shaped black bars on caudal / ○ female with a midlateral row of vertically elongated black, grey or dark-brown blotches or narrow bars / ○ male with grey bars on silvery background or with roundish or ovoid silvery spots or blotches, sometimes with short vermiculation, on a grey greenish or bluish background, often with spots in front of anal origin and bars on caudal peduncle / ○ body covered by overlapping scales / ○ caudal truncate, or slightly rounded / ○ 7–8½ branched dorsal rays. Size up to about 55 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Mond to Minab drainages as well as Qeshm Island.

Habitat. Lakes, rivers, and streams with high salinity.

Biology. Live up to 3 years, mature in a few months, usually late in year of birth. Males establish territories along banks, usually in dense vegetation but also between rocks, which they defend against rival males. Females spawn with one or more males, usually in algae or other vegetation near surface or in gravel bottoms. Few eggs are deposited in substrate during a spawning event. Individual females may produce several clutches of eggs in 1 day. Feeds on algae, detritus, and small invertebrates.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Aphaniops teimorii was previously described as A. hormuzensis , and this name is still in use, although it is not available ( nomen nudum) due to a formal error in the description.

Further reading. Teimori et al. 2018 (invalid description of A. hormuzensis ); Freyhof & Yoğurtçuoğlu 2020 (description); Teimori et al. 2020 (invalid attempt to re-establish A. hormuzensis ).