Astatotilapia flaviijosephi

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Astatotilapia flaviijosephi
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cichliformes
Family: Cichlidae
Genus: Astatotilapia
Species:
A. flaviijosephi
Binomial name
Astatotilapia flaviijosephi
(Lortet, 1883)
Synonyms
  • Chromis flaviijosephiLortet, 1883
  • Haplochromis flaviijosephi(Lortet, 1883)
  • Haplochromis flavijosephi(Lortet, 1883)
  • Tilapia flaviijosephi(Lortet, 1883)

Astatotilapia flaviijosephi, the Jordan mouthbrooder, is a vulnerable species of freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae (cichlids). [1] It is found in the central Jordan River system, including Lake Tiberias (Kinneret), in Israel, Jordan and Syria, [1] [2] making it the only haplochromine cichlid to naturally range outside of Africa. [3] [4] This species is too small to be of significant importance to fisheries, [5] unlike the only other cichlids native to the Levant, the economically important tilapias ( Oreochromis aureus , O. niloticus , Sarotherodon galilaeus , Coptodon zillii and Tristramella ). [3] [6]

Contents

The specific name flaviijosephi refers to the historian Titus Flavius Josephus (37–c. 100 CE). [7]

Habitat and conservation status

The natural habitats of A. flaviijosephi are streams, springs, canals, pools and shallow waters in lakes, [2] [3] especially in areas with stones or aquatic vegetation. [1] [4] The various subpopulations are isolated from each other, with some being lacustrine and others essentially riverine. [1] The water temperature in its range vary quite significantly with season, at least from 14 to 28.5 °C (57–83.5 °F), [6] but aquarium studies have shown that A. flaviijosephi are almost completely inactive at the lowermost range. [8]

A. flaviijosephi is threatened by habitat loss caused by drought, water extraction and pollution. It may also be threatened by introduced species, although they do not appear to have affected the Lake Tiberias population. [1]

Appearance

A. flaviijosephi is the smallest cichlid native to its range. [5] It reaches up to 12.8 cm (5 in) in total length, [2] but most adults are about 5–8 cm (2–3 in). [5] Males grow larger than females. [4]

Like many other cichlids, its colour pattern varies with sex, age and mood; some of these colour changes can occur quite rapidly. [8] The standard pattern is overall silvery–greyish to silvery–tan with a vertical dark or pale line below the eye. Males have a few relatively large yellow "egg–spots" on the anal fin and a few dotty orangish lines along the side of the body. When afraid they get about ten dark grey vertical bars on their body and when breeding two horizontal stripes. The latter pattern is stronger in courting males when most markings and colours become much more intense and contrasting, with blue–black underparts and a bright blue chin. Nursing females are also more contrastingly patterned than the standard breeding season pattern, but much less intense than the courting males. [8]

Behavior

Breeding

A. flaviijosephi breeds in the spring and summer, [2] and a female is able to spawn more than once in a season. [8] Females will already breed when 4 cm (1.6 in) long and males when 5 cm (2.0 in). [8] Breeding males are highly territorial and will kill another adult male if he is unable to escape, as can happen if kept in an aquarium that is too small. [8] Like other haplochromines, A. flaviijosephi is a mouthbrooder. The eggs are laid by the female and fertilized by the male in a small pit that he has dug in the bottom (otherwise the male does not participate in the brood care). Shortly after they are picked up by the female, which broods them in her mouth. [4] [8] The young are released after about two-and-a-half to five weeks when they are 0.8–1.4 cm (0.31–0.55 in) long. [2] [4] [8] Brooding time depends on water temperature; it takes about twice as long at 20 °C (68 °F) compared to 27.5 °C (82 °F). [4] [8] Sometimes the young are allowed to return to the female and seek security in her mouth for a couple of days after the release. [4] [8]

Feeding

This cichlid is a predator that mostly feeds on small invertebrates, [2] but also will take fish fry, [5] tiny fish up to about half the size of the A. flaviijosephi itself and aquatic vegetation. [8] Adult males mostly eat freshwater snails, while females mostly eat insects and their larvae (especially chironomids), worms and amphipods. [2] [5] This difference in diet is also reflected in differences in the teeth of the sexes. [5]

Related Research Articles

Cichlid Family of fishes

Cichlids are fish from the family Cichlidae in the order Cichliformes. Cichlids were traditionally classed in a suborder, Labroidei, along with the wrasses (Labridae), in the order Perciformes but molecular studies have contradicted this grouping. The closest living relatives of cichlids are probably the convict blennies and both families are classified in the 5th edition of Fishes of the World as the two families in the Cichliformes, part of the subseries Ovalentaria. This family is both large and diverse. At least 1,650 species have been scientifically described, making it one of the largest vertebrate families. New species are discovered annually, and many species remain undescribed. The actual number of species is therefore unknown, with estimates varying between 2,000 and 3,000.

<i>Maylandia estherae</i>

Maylandia estherae is a haplochromine cichlid. It is a rock dwelling fish or mbuna from Lake Malawi. This fish, like most cichlids from Lake Malawi, is a mouthbrooder - females hold their fertilized eggs then fry in their mouths until they are released after about 21 days.

<i>Astatotilapia</i>

Astatotilapia is a genus of small freshwater fish in the family Cichlidae found in Eastern and Northern Africa, with a single species, A. flaviijosephi, in Western Asia. Many species have been moved between this genus and Haplochromis, and while some consensus has been reached in recent years, their mutual delimitation is still far from settled. Based on mtDNA, Astatotilapia as currently defined is polyphyletic.

<i>Aulonocranus</i>

Aulonocranus dewindti is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Tanganyika and some rivers which flow into it.

Haplochromine

The haplochromine cichlids are a tribe of cichlids in subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae called Haplochromini. This group includes the type genus (Haplochromis) plus a number of closely related genera such as Aulonocara, Astatotilapia, and Chilotilapia. They are endemic to eastern, southern and northern Africa, except for Astatotilapia flaviijosephi in the Middle East. A common name in a scientific context is East African cichlids – while they are not restricted to that region, they are the dominant Cichlidae there. This tribe was extensively studied by Ethelwynn Trewavas, who made major reviews in 1935 and 1989, at the beginning and at the end of her career in ichthyology. Even today, numerous new species are being described each year.

<i>Cyrtocara</i>

Cyrtocara moorii, commonly known as the hump-head, is a species of haplochromine cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in east Africa where they prefer areas with sandy substrates. It can grow to a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. The species is popular among aquarium keepers where it is known as the hump-head cichlid, blue dolphin cichlid, Malawi dolphin or simply as moorii. It is currently the only known member of its genus. The specific name honours the English cytologist and biologist John Edmund Sharrock Moore (1870-1947).

<i>Iodotropheus sprengerae</i>

Iodotropheus sprengerae, the rusty cichlid, lavender mbuna or lavender cichlid, is a species of cichlid endemic to the Boadzulu and Chinyankwazi Islands and Chinyamwezi Island regions of Lake Malawi. It prefers a temperature range of 24-26 °C.

<i>Nimbochromis livingstonii</i>

Nimbochromis livingstonii, Livingston's cichlid or (locally) kalingono, is a freshwater mouthbrooding cichlid native to Lake Malawi, an African Rift Lake. It is also found in the upper Shire River and Lake Malombe. They are found in inshore areas of the lake over sandy substrates.

<i>Copadichromis borleyi</i>

Copadichromis borleyi is a species of haplochromine cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa. The species is popular in the fishkeeping hobby where it is frequently kept in aquariums. The species has numerous common names, including redfin hap and goldfin hap.

Nkhomo-benga peacock

The nkhomo-benga peacock, also known as the new yellow regal peacock, is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Malawi. This species is threatened by capture for the aquarium trade.

<i>Ctenochromis horei</i>

Ctenochromis horei is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is found in East Africa.

<i>Gnathochromis pfefferi</i>

Gnathochromis pfefferi is an African species of fish in the family Cichlidae. It is endemic to Lake Tanganyika and its slow-flowing tributaries in the countries of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Tanzania and Zambia. It is common and widespread. This cichlid is found in relatively shallow waters, typically over soft bottoms in places with aquatic grasses.

<i>Protomelas kirkii</i>

Protomelas kirkii is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi where it is most commonly found in areas vegetated with Vallisneria. This species can reach a length of 18 centimetres (7.1 in) TL. This species can also be found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Pseudotropheus saulosi</i>

Pseudotropheus saulosi is a species of cichlid endemic to Lake Malawi in East Africa where it lives in areas with rocky substrates. It is classified as a dwarf-mbuna and was first described by Ad Konings in 1990 who gave it the specific name saulosi in honour of Saulos Mwale who caught over 3,000 specimens in a single day on the expedition which collected the type. It comes from an area of the lake called Taiwan Reef, and from nowhere else. This fish can also be found in the aquarium trade.

Electric blue hap

The electric blue hap is a species of cichlid fish endemic to Lake Malawi. It prefers to live in caves and crevices in rocky substrates. This species can reach a length of 20 centimetres (7.9 in) TL. It can also be found in the aquarium trade.

<i>Tristramella</i>

Tristramella is a genus of oreochromines, freshwater fishes in the cichlid family. The members of this genus prefer standing waters and their native range is restricted to the Jordan River system, including Lake Tiberias (Kinneret), in Israel and Syria, with introduced populations in a few other places in Syria. Its members are among the few cichlids native to Western Asia, the others being Astatotilapia flaviijosephi, Coptodon zillii, Iranocichla, Oreochromis aureus, O. niloticus and Sarotherodon galilaeus.

Redbelly tilapia

The redbelly tilapia, also known as the Zille's redbreast tilapia or St. Peter's fish, is a species of fish in the cichlid family. This fish is found widely in fresh and brackish waters in the northern half of Africa and the Middle East. Elsewhere in Africa, Asia, Australia and North America, it has been introduced as a food fish or as a control of aquatic vegetation. Where introduced, it sometimes becomes invasive, threatening the local ecology and species. The redbelly tilapia is an important food fish and sometimes aquacultured.

<i>Astatotilapia bloyeti</i>

Astatotilapia bloyeti is a species of haplochromine cichlid from the coastal river systems of Tanzania. Reports from other areas of Africa are considered to refer to related species. The IUCN considers it to be endemic to the Pangani River and includes Kenya in its range. This species taxonomic status is uncertain and some authorities place it in the genus Haplochromis while others retain it in Astatotilapia. This taxonomic uncertainty has led the IUCN to classify this species conservation status as Data Deficient. The specific name honours the collector of the type, Capitaine A. Bloyet, chief of the French research station at "Kandôa, Tanzania".

<i>Astatotilapia calliptera</i> species of fish

Astatotilapia calliptera, the eastern happy or eastern river bream, is a species of haplochromine cichlid from southeastern Africa.

<i>Haplochromis adolphifrederici</i> species of fish

Haplochromis adolphifrederici is a species of haplochromine cichlid which is endemic to Lake Kivu. It is an insectivorous, maternal mouthbrooder. The specific name honours Duke Adolf Friedrich of Mecklenburg (1873-1969) the German explorer in Africa, a colonial politician and leader of a scientific research expedition in the region of the Central African Graben which traversed Africa from east to west, during which type was collected.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Freyhof, J. (2014). "Haplochromis flaviijosephi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2014: e.T61348A19009964. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T61348A19009964.en .
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2019). "Astatotilapia flaviijosephi" in FishBase . October 2019 version.
  3. 1 2 3 Werner, N.Y.; O. Mokady (2004). "Swimming out of Africa: mitochondrial DNA evidence for late Pliocene dispersal of a cichlid from Central Africa to the Levant". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 82 (1): 103–109. doi: 10.1111/j.1095-8312.2004.00321.x .
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Steeves, G. (2019). "Astatotilapia flaviijosephi". cichlid-forum. Retrieved 3 November 2019.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Spataru, P.; M. Gophen (1985). "Food composition and feeding habits of Astatotilapia flaviijosephi (Lortet) in Lake Kinneret (Israel)". Journal of Fish Biology. 26 (5): 503–507. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8649.1985.tb04290.x.
  6. 1 2 Shapiro, J.; Z. Snovsky (1997). "The effect of the 1991/1992 winter upon the fishing industry of Lake Kinneret, Israel". Fisheries Management and Ecology. 4 (3): 249–252. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2400.1997.00122.x.
  7. ↑ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (22 July 2018). "Order CICHLIFORMES: Family CICHLIDAE: Subfamily PSEUDOCRENILABRINAE (a-g)". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 28 November 2018.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Werner, Y.L. (1976). "Notes on reproduction in the mouth-brooding fish Haplochromis flaviijosephi (Teleostei : Cichlidae) in the aquarium". Journal of Natural History. 10 (6): 669–680. doi:10.1080/00222937600770521.
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