Paraphanius mento, Sea

Freyhof, JÖrg, Yoğurtçuoğlu, Baran, Jouladeh-Roudbar, Arash & Kaya, Cüneyt, 2025, Handbook of Freshwater Fishes of West Asia, De Gruyter : 754

Paraphanius mento

Common name. Iridescent killifish.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Parapha- nius 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 pale- brown 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.

Distribution . Tigris downstream of Mosul and common in marshes along Shatt al-Arab/Arvand. Upper Nahr al Khābūr in Syria, Damascus basin, Litani and Jordan drain- ages, and Dead Sea basin (Ein Feshkha spring). Also, one record in Qweiq and in very upper Orontes in Syria, down- stream to Homs.

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.

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

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. Par- aphanius 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.

Further reading. Al-Daham et al. 1977 (biology).

Figures

Paraphanius mento

Distribution