Tristramella simonis (Gunther, 1864)

Tristramella simonis View in CoL View Figure

Common name. Short jaw Tristramella .

Diagnosis. Distinguished from other species of Cichlidae in West Asia by: ● lower jaw slightly projecting / ○ outer teeth bicuspid, inner teeth tricuspid / ○ chest never red / ○ nuptial male pale-grey or pinkish white without white spots or vermiculation on flank / ○ 10–12 gill rakers on lower part of first branchial arch / ○ chest, belly, and isthmus in front of pelvic covered by small scales / ○ 3 anal spines / ○ scales cycloid / ○ no ocelli on anal. Size up to 250 mm SL.

Distribution View Figure . Jordan drainage: Lakes Muzayrib ( Syria), Hula and Kinneret (Tiberias) (both in Israel), Dara’a reservoir and a canal at Al Asha’ari ( Syria), Damascus basin, and Lake Hula. Non-native in Orontes and Nahr al Kabir ( Syria).

Habitat. Lakes, reservoirs, springs, and spring-fed streams and canals.

Biology. Spawns March–August. Maternal mouthbrooder or both partners participate in brooding. Feeds on phytoplankton and invertebrates.

Conservation status. VU; extirpated from Hula due to drainage of this wetland and extirpated from Damascus basin due to drying up of lakes it inhabited. Apparently stable in Kinneret. Probably declining outside Lake Kinneret, but inhabiting reservoirs and invasive in Syria.

Further reading. Goren 1974 (distribution); Borkenhagen & Freyhof 2009 (distribution).