Pearl-spotted Killifish

biology_ecology

Habitat. Slow-flowing rivers, lakes, and marshes usually associated with dense aquatic vegetation. Biology. Live up to 3 years, mature in a few months, usually late in year of birth. Spawns April to July in southern Iraq. 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.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

conservation

Conservation status. LC; extirpated from Qweiq and seems to have disappeared from Iranian part of Mesopotamian marshes.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Paraphanius by: ○ male bluish, black or dusty grey with roundish or elongated silvery spots on flank, spots might be organised in vertical series or in longitudinal rows (with whitish bars in lower Mesopotamia) / ○ silvery spots distinct, not overlaid by many fine, powder-like dots / ○ female with silvery spots on each flank-scale (female with whitish blotches in lower Mesopotamia) / ○ female without midlateral stripe or palebrown marbled pattern on flank / ○ pelvic not reaching to anal origin in adult male. Diagnostic character blurred as several species seemed to be involved. Size up to 52 mm SL.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia

discussion

Remarks. There is a considerable population diversity within P. mento, as recognised here. Paraphanius mento occurs in sympatry with P. striptus in the northern Dead Sea basin and possibly elsewhere in Jordan drainage. Both species have also hybridised extensively in the region. Paraphanius mento was described from Tigris at Mosul based on individuals with isolated iridescent spots. Fish from the lower Tigris show a barred pattern in males (similar to P. striptus) and a marmorated pattern in females (vs. plain in P. striptus and other populations of P. mento). These might not be conspecific with P. mento. Molecular characters and details in colour pattern of fish from Mosul have not yet been studied. Molecular analyses place fish from the Litani and upper Orontes, lowermost Tigris, Jordan, Damascus basin, and middle Orontes in three distinct clades, with P. striptus nested in between in some analyses. The diversity of P. mento will have to be re-examined when material from Mosul becomes available.

Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia