Paraphanius striptus (Goren, 1974)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 761-762

Paraphanius striptus

Common name. Palestinian killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Paraphanius by: ○ adults small, rarely more than 40 mm SL / ○ lower jaw slightly upturned / ○ background colour bright blue in male, with an orange upper part of head and anterior back / ○ male with silvery lines, regularly shaped, rarely interrupted / ○ female with few silvery spots on flank, not organised as continuous rows on caudal peduncle / ○ female without brown stripe along lateral midline. Size up to 40 mm SL.

Distribution. Israel and Syria: Jordan drainage south of Lake Tiberias, locally in Jarmuk drainage, and in several coastal spring-stream systems.

Paraphanius sp. ; Orontes drainage, Syria; immature male, 32 mm SL.

Habitat. Springs and streams with dense underwater vegetation.

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, defending against rivals.Females spawn with one or more males, usually in vegetation close to surface. Individual females produce several clutches in one day. Feeds on algae, detritus, and small invertebrates.

Conservation status. LC.

Remarks. Occurs in sympatry with P. mento in northern Dead Sea basin and possibly elsewhere in Jordan drainage. Here, both species hybridise, at least locally.

Further reading. Goren 1974 (description).