Haplochromis Haplochromis flaviijosephi (Lortet, 1883)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 784-786

Haplochromis

Haplochromis and related genera from Africa’s Lake Victoria region represent the largest cichlid fish genus and the most species awaiting description. These fishes provide textbook examples of adaptive radiations and the role of hybridisa- tion in speciation and evolution. While being very speciose and morphologically as well as ecologically very diverse in Africa, there is only one species native to Asia, which is distantly related to the “Lake Victoria Region Superflock.”

Further reading. Meier et al. 2017 (phylogeny, species diversity, evolution); Moser et al. 2018 (fast speciation). Haplochromis flaviijosephi

Common name. Jordan mouthbrooder.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cichlidae in West Asia by: ● scales ctenoid / ● yellow or orange ocelli on anal in adults / ○ chest, belly, and isthmus in front of pelvic covered by small scales / ○ 3 anal spines / ○ flank with a short stripe between opercle and about middle of spined part of dorsal, continued as 1–2 blotches on lateral midline behind spined part of dorsal / ○ bold bar between eye and corner of mouth / ○ flank with indistinctive dark-grey or brown bars. Size up to 100 mm SL.

Distribution . Jordan drainage, where it occurs in Lake Muzayrib ( Syria) and Lake Kinneret ( Israel) basins, in Ajami and Al Asha’ari springs (southern Syria), and in vicinity of Lake Kinneret and the Baisan Valley ( Israel).

Habitat. Shallow shores of lakes, springs, and streams where it occurs among rocks and vegetation.

Biology. Maternal mouthbrooders without permanent pair-bonding. Spawns several times between April and July. Nuptial males occupy a territory with a shallow nest in center. Female spawn with territorial males. After fertilisa- tion in nest, female takes eggs in mouth. In Lake Kinneret, females feed mainly on chironomid larvae, oligochaetes, and amphipods, while males feed primarily on snails.

Conservation status. VU; appears to be relatively secure in Lake Kinneret but declining in its small range outside the lake.

Remarks. Haplochromis flaviijosephi does not appear to be closely related to any African Haplochromis species. There must have been a recent biogeographic window that allowed C. zillii , O. aureus , and S. galilaeus to invade the Jordan from the Nile. However, both H.flaviijosephi and Tristramella must have existed in Levant before the biogeo- graphic connection to the Nile, and a much earlier invasion from the Nile could be proposed. Alternatively, Tristramella and H. flaviijosephi may be relics of a once widespread range of cichlids on the Arabian Peninsula and may have invaded the Jordan from Saudi Arabia.

Further reading. Goren 1974 (distribution); Werner 1976 (reproduction); Spataru & Gophen 1985a (food).

Figures

Haplochromis flaviijosephi

Distribution