Aphaniops richardsoni (Boulenger, 1907)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 726-727

Aphaniops richardsoni

Common name. Dead Sea killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Aphaniops in West Asia by: ● male with silvery vermiculation on grey background on flank / ○ bars absent on flank or restricted to caudal peduncle in male / ○ female with a midlateral row of vertically elongated black, grey or dark-brown blotches or narrow bars / ○ male without black dorsal margin, anal yellow anteriorly, with 3–8 narrow black or brown bands on posterior part of fin / ○ dorsal in male only slightly longer than in females, not reaching caudal base in male larger than 30 mm SL / ○ male with 2–3 bold, crescent-shaped black bars on caudal / ○ body covered by overlapping scales / ○ caudal truncate or slightly rounded. Size up to 50 mm SL.

Distribution. Jordan and Israel: Springs in Dead Sea basin.

Habitat. Springs and headwater streams, usually with fresh or brackish water.

Biology. Live up to 3 years, mature in a few months, usually late in the year of birth. Biology similar to other Aphaniidae . Feeds on algae, detritus and small invertebrates.

Conservation status. EN; appears to be declining within its very small range. In Jordan, extirpated from the northern Dead Sea basin and now restricted to the southern part.

Further reading. Freyhof et al. 2017b (molecular data, distribution); Kärst et al. 2020 (distribution, reproduction).