Aphanius sirhani
Encyclopedia
Aphanius sirhani is a species of fish
in the Cyprinodontidae family. It is endemic to Jordan
. Its natural habitat
is freshwater spring
. It is threatened by habitat loss.
In 1983 Aphanius sirhani was described for the first time as a new species of Killifish. It was found at Azraq Wetland in Jordan
, the only habitat for this species in the world. Habitat changes and the introduction of other fish species reduced its population until it became at the edge of extinction in 1989 and was thought to be extinct in the mid-nineties. In 2000 a survey showed that there were c45 adult fish remaining within the Azraq wetland. In 2001 a rescue mission involving captive breeding was initiated to secure the species future, aiming at reitroducing captive fish back into the wild due to water extraction. Successful reintroduction to the wild will be dependent on factors including the removal of alien Tilapia
Sarotherodon galileus.
Fish
Fish are a paraphyletic group of organisms that consist of all gill-bearing aquatic vertebrate animals that lack limbs with digits. Included in this definition are the living hagfish, lampreys, and cartilaginous and bony fish, as well as various extinct related groups...
in the Cyprinodontidae family. It is endemic to Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
. Its natural habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is freshwater spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
. It is threatened by habitat loss.
In 1983 Aphanius sirhani was described for the first time as a new species of Killifish. It was found at Azraq Wetland in Jordan
Jordan
Jordan , officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan , Al-Mamlaka al-Urduniyya al-Hashemiyya) is a kingdom on the East Bank of the River Jordan. The country borders Saudi Arabia to the east and south-east, Iraq to the north-east, Syria to the north and the West Bank and Israel to the west, sharing...
, the only habitat for this species in the world. Habitat changes and the introduction of other fish species reduced its population until it became at the edge of extinction in 1989 and was thought to be extinct in the mid-nineties. In 2000 a survey showed that there were c45 adult fish remaining within the Azraq wetland. In 2001 a rescue mission involving captive breeding was initiated to secure the species future, aiming at reitroducing captive fish back into the wild due to water extraction. Successful reintroduction to the wild will be dependent on factors including the removal of alien Tilapia
Tilapia
Tilapia , is the common name for nearly a hundred species of cichlid fish from the tilapiine cichlid tribe. Tilapia inhabit a variety of fresh water habitats, including shallow streams, ponds, rivers and lakes. Historically, they have been of major importance in artisan fishing in Africa and the...
Sarotherodon galileus.
Source
- Crivelli, A.J. 2005. Aphanius sirhani. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 4 August 2007.