Esmaeilius sophiae (Heckel, 1847)
Arak tooth-carp,  Kapour-e-dandandar-e-Arak.,  Kapour-e-dandandare-e-Kavir,  Kavir tooth-carp,  Kavir Zahnkärpfling,  Kopur Rndandar Sufieh,  Mesopotamian tooth-carp,  آفانيوس
Esmaeilius sophiae
photo by Esmaeili, H.R.

Family:  Aphaniidae (Oriental killifishes)
Max. size:  5.8 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  benthopelagic; freshwater, non-migratory
Distribution:  Asia: Iran and Iraq.
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 12-15; Anal soft rays: 10-17. Females have fine spotting on the flank. Males have 10-21 bars (Ref. 83325).
Biology:  Mainly herbivorous (Ref. 13530). Not a seasonal killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
IUCN Red List Status: Not Evaluated (N.E.) Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless
Country info:  Known from the River Kor/Marvdasht and Bibiseydan spring; Helleh/ Arjan wetland. Known as Aphanius kavirensis in Kavir/ Cheshmeh-e-Ali spring; as A. mesopotamicus in Karoun River/Jarahi River, and as A. pluristriatus in Mond River, Jahrom and Khonj city (Ref.125310). Also Ref. 27139, 83325.


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