Aphanius, Nardo, 1827

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 732-733

Aphanius

The two species of the genus Aphanius are found along the coasts of the Mediterranean, where they inhabit a wide range of brackish waters and are rarely seen in pure freshwaters or the sea. Inland water habitats are usually associated with very high mineral concentrations. Aphanius inhabit mostly shores with dense submerged vegetation and resist pollution and high water temperatures. Notably, nuptial males are territorial, whereas non-nuptial males and females often shoal and may be pelagic.

Further reading. Kottelat et al. 2007 (species diversity); Triantafyllidis et al. 2007 (phylogeny); Valdesalici et al. 2019 (distribution).

Heavily polluted outflow of a thermal spring in Tuzla, Türkiye. Habitat of many thousands of Aphanius almiriensis .

Aphanius almiriensis ; Tuzla, Türkiye; female, ~ 35 mm SL.

Aphanius almiriensis ; Tuzla, Türkiye; male, ~ 25 mm SL.