Azraq Killifish
CR

Azraq Killifish

Aphaniops sirhani

Unknown

Photo: Photo: Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA

Overview

Aphaniops sirhani, the Azraq toothcarp, is a species of fish in the family Aphaniidae. It is endemic to the Azraq Wetland Reserve in Jordan. This species occurs in shallow water where there is vegetation and stones, or over muddy substrates where it feeds on insect larvae and crustaceans. They breed in the Spring.

Aphaniops sirhani faces severe threats from water extraction and agricultural development that have dramatically reduced water levels in its desert spring habitats. The species' extremely limited range makes it highly vulnerable to any changes in water chemistry or flow, while introduced species and pollution from nearby human activities further compromise its fragile ecosystem.

Threat summary

Habitat

This critically endangered pupfish is endemic to desert springs and associated pools in arid regions of the Middle East. It inhabits shallow, warm freshwater springs with specific water chemistry requirements, typically in areas with minimal vegetation and high mineral content.

Conservation measures underway

Species reintroductionEx-situ conservation

Other threatened species in APHANIIDAE

CR

Aphaniops ginaonis

Declining
EN

Burdur killifish

Anatolichthys sureyanus

Declining
EN

Kosswigichthys asquamatus

Declining
CR

Anatolichthys irregularis

Declining

Frequently asked questions

Why is Azraq Killifish classified as Critically Endangered?
Azraq Killifish is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Aphaniops sirhani faces severe threats from water extraction and agricultural development that have dramatically reduced water levels in its desert spring habitats. The species' extremely limited range makes it highly vulnerable to any changes in water chemistry or flow, while introduced species and pollution from nearby human activities further compromise its fragile ecosystem.
Where does Azraq Killifish live?
Azraq Killifish occurs in across multiple regions. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Azraq Killifish?
The main threats to Azraq Killifish are 7.2, 8.1, ai-1, and ai-2. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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