Iranocichla hormuzensis

Common name. Persian pearl cichlid.

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cichlidae in West Asia by: ● lower part of head and chest in nuptial male black / ○ black blotch on last spinous part of dorsal distinct / ○ no or very few white spots on caudal / ○ no scales on chest, belly, and isthmus in front of pelvic origin / ○ 3 anal spines / ○ scales cycloid. Size up to 120 mm SL.

Distribution. Iran: Middle and lower Mehran drainage.

Habitat. Freshwater to hypersaline streams, often partially drying up in summer and forming isolated pools. Area around Strait of Hormuz is rich in salt domes and hypersaline streams; up to about 1½ marine salinity, are found. Water temperatures range from 15 to 33°C in winter (November to March) and up to 40°C in summer.

Biology. Maternal mouthbrooders without permanent pair-bonding. Spawns in spring. Nuptial males occupy a territory with a shallow nest in center. Female spawn with territorial males. After fertilisation in nest, female takes eggs in mouth and returns to schools.

Conservation status. VU; appears to be declining within its small range.

Further reading. Coad 1982b (description); Esmaeili et al. 2016b (review); Schwarzer et al. 2016 (phylogeny).