Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Aphaniidae (Oriental killifishes)
Etymology: Apricaphanius: Name from the Latin substantive Apricus, meaning 'shining', alluding to the many small white spots on the flanks of the male, which give them a shiny appearance.
More on author: Valenciennes.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; pH range: 6.5 - 7.5; dH range: 8 - 10; non-migratory. Temperate; 10°C - 32°C (Ref. 1672); 42°N - 34°N, 3°W - 1°E
Europe: Spain along Mediterranean coast from 30 known localities (now extirpated in 14 of them). Historical records from near Perpignan, France now extirpated. Populations from Algeria and the Atlas along Morocco-Algeria border have long been identified as Aphanius iberus but they belong to Aphanius saourensis and other, unnamed and possibly extinct, species (Ref. 59043).
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 3788); 5.4 cm TL (female)
Dorsal spines (total): 0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9 - 11; Anal spines: 0; Anal soft rays: 7 - 10. Can be diagnosed from other species of Aphanius, Valenciidae and Fundulidae in Europe by having the following characters: males possess a hyaline to bluish-grey caudal fin, with 2-5 dark grey bars, 10-20 dark grey to dark blue bars on a silvery background, bars usually irregularly shaped and set, often connected, breaking up into a mosaic of dark blue and silvery spots along back and in posterior part of body; females have numerous dark brown spots on sides and back; 23-27 scales in lateral line series on body; pectoral fin with 9-10 rays; and anal fin with 7-8 rays (Ref. 59043).
Inhabits lagoons, salt marshes, swamps, estuaries and freshwaters. Euryhaline, occurring in water bodies with salinities ranging from freshwater to 57 ppt (Ref. 59043). Occurs in lowland water with little current. Spawns from April to September. Is an egg-laying carnivorous fish which is used for mosquito control (Ref. 26100). This short-lived species is now threatened throughout its entire range because of habitat destruction and because of the introduction of Gambusia affinis (Ref. 3788). Not a seasonal killifish. Is easy to maintain in the aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Freyhof, J. and B. Yoğurtçuoğlu, 2020. A proposal for a new generic structure of the killifish family Aphaniidae, with the description of Aphaniops teimorii (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes). Zootaxa 4810(3):421-451. (Ref. 126233)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-2)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.00912 (0.00550 - 0.01512), b=3.19 (3.05 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this species & (Sub)family-body (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.4 ±0.45 se; based on food items.
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (tm=0.5; K>0.3).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
