Anatolichthys danfordii (Boulenger, 1890)

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 703-704

Anatolichthys danfordii

Common name. Sultan killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Anatolichthys by: ● male with rhomboid dorsal profile, straight up to a vertical line through pelvic origin / ○ male with 8–14 black bars / ○ male with bars behind dorsal origin wider than interspaces / ○ third-last bar anterior to caudal base 2.3–4.0 times wider than anterior white interspace in male larger than 26 mm SL / ○ male with 1–4 bold black vertical bars on caudal / ○ male with completely grey or black dorsal often with grey margin / ○ dorsal base hyaline or with a narrow white line / ○ male with yellow or white anal, with narrow black margin and 1–4 narrow, black, concentric bands / ○ female with numerous bold black spots and/ or blotches on flank not organised in bars or a midlateral row / ○ female without spots or blotches on caudal and/or anal / ○ body completely covered with overlapping scales. Size up to 46 mm SL.

Distribution. Türkiye: Sultan marshes in Develi depression.

Habitat. Springs, spring-fed streams, and canals with or without dense underwater vegetation.

Biology. Live up to 3 years; biology as described in genus section.

Conservation status. CR; see comments under Pseudophoxinus elizavetae .

Remarks. Cyprinodon chantrei is a synonym.

Further reading. Wildekamp et al. 1999 (identification); Pfleiderer et al. 2014 ( C. chantrei ); Yoğurtçuoğlu & Freyhof 2018 (identification).

Anatolichthys fontinalis ; Yarışlı, Türkiye; female, 32 mm SL.

Anatolichthys fontinalis ; Yarışlı, Türkiye; male, 35 mm SL.