The first report of common tooth-carp, Aphanius dispar (Ruppell, 1829) (Actinopterygii: Cyprinodontidae) from the mangrove forests in Qeshm Island

Qeshm is the biggest Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, situated at northwestern ofthe Strait of Hormuz. It has a length of ~115 km and width of 10-35 km. The island sdiverse ecosystems, including the mangrove aquatic habitats have provided suitablecondition for living of variety of aquatic organisms including fishes. This uniqueecosystem has made an important role in the maintenance, protection anddevelopment of different life forms in the sea. The common tooth-carp, Aphaniusdispar (Ruppell, 1829), is one of the species of the family Cyprinodontidae, whichhas a wide distribution range in the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea basins, includingMakran, Hormuz, Bushehr and the Tigris and Euphrates. It is the most successfulspecies among all the Aphanius species found in Iran in terms of distribution. In thepresent study, three populations of this species were collected from different habitatsfrom the southern coast, north-west and north-east of the island, including mangrovesof Qeshm Island. Gambusia holbrooki (Poecilidae) is the other member ofcyprinidontiform fish that is reported from the Gold wells (a traditional water storagesystems) in Laft village in Qeshm Island. Due to the wide distribution of A. disparpopulations in southern and western basins of Iran and its high salinity resistant,further population studies of this native fish are recommended. Moreover, owing tofeeding habits of Aphanius in collecting food from3T water surface and insect larvae,its role in biological controlling of the insect larvae is recommended as a suitablealternative for the exotic Gambusia.

کلیدواژه ها:

Qeshm Island ، Mangrove forest ، Aphanius dispar ، Gambusia holbrooki