20. Aphaniops kruppi (Freyhof, Weissenbacher & Geiger, 2017), Endemic

Fig. 48

Etymology: Aphaniops: Aphanius -opsis, resembling Aphanius; kruppi: named for Dr. Fareed Krupp for his valuable contributions to the explorations of the freshwater fishes of the Middle East.

Common name: Omani Killifish, Omani Tooth-carp.

Taxonomy: Aphanius kruppi was described by Freyhof [J.], Weissenbacher [A.] & Geiger [M. F.] 2017:561, figs. 2-5 [Zootaxa 4338 (no. 3)] from a spring in Al Mudayrib, Oman, 22°36’46”N, 58°40’31”E.

Holotype: ZFMK-ICH 103668. Paratype: FSJF. Plus additional non-type material.

Short description: Aphaniops kruppi is distinguished from the other Aphaniops in the Arabian Peninsula by combination of the following characters: Male with 9–14 brown or grey flank bars between pectorals, pelvic and caudal-fin bases, often associated into blotches in front of pelvic-fin base. Females with a diamond-shaped or vertically elongate black or dark brown blotch at caudal-fin base. Dorsal-fin branched rays 6½–7½, anal-fin branched rays 7½–8½, caudal-fin branched rays 8+7–8+8, pectoral-fin rays 14–16, pelvic-fin rays 6–7. Trunk and head entirely scaled, scales large and cycloid in females, with small cteni in males, scale above pectoral-fin origin enlarged, one scale row on upper part of opercle, flank with 24–28 scales along lateral series, two or three additional rows of small scales on anterior caudal-fin base, 9, rarely 10 scale rows between dorsal- and pelvic-fin origins, caudal peduncle with 16, rarely 14, circumpeduncular scales. Lateral line incomplete, with 9–15 pores, scales pored mostly behind vertical of pelvic-fin origin. Teeth tricuspid, median tip is longer than laterals.

Distribution: Wadi Bani Khalid drainage; Al Bahayes, Al Seeb, Muscat Goveronate; Al Amirat, Muscat Goveronate; Dar Seit, Muscat, Muscat Governorate; Mudharieb, Al Sharqiya Governorate; Wadi Darbat, Dhofar Governorate; Hasik, Dhofar Governorate; Mugsail, Dhofar Governorate; Raysut, Dhofar Governorate; Ain Razat, Dhofar Governorate; Sadah, Dhofar Governorate; Soub, Dhofar Governorate; Galaji, Al Sharqiya Governorate; Al Wasil, Al Sharqiya Governorate; Wadi Bani Khalid (northern Oman and eastern Yemen); Ibra, Al Sharqiya Governorate; Surur, Samail, Ad Dakhiliyah Governorate; Ain Jarziz, Dhofar Governorate; Ain Hamran, Dhofar Governorate; Mirbat, Dhofar Governorate; Wadi Anshir, Dhofar Governorate; Ain Sahalnout, Dhofar Governorate; Taqa, Dhofar Governorate; Al Qabil, Al Sharqiya Governorate; Sur bridge, Sur, Al Sharqiya Governorate Conservation (Fig. 49).

Remarks: Several populations of this tooth-carp fish are reported here (Fig. 49).

Examined material: ZM-CBSU: O001. Ak 101, 90, Oman: Dhofar Governorate, Salalah, Wadi Hasik, at Hasik, 17°22’01.2”N, 55°16’58.8”E, H. R. Esmaeili, S.M. Al-Jufaili, A. H Masoumi, 04 Jan. 2022. ZM-CBSU: O003. Ak 191, 56, Oman: Dhofar Governorate, Wadi Darbat, 17°05’55”N, 54°27’04”E, H. R. Esmaeili, S.M. Al-Jufaili, A.H. Masoumi, 02 Jan. 2022.