Arabian Killifish Aphanius dispar

The Arabian Killifish, also called Arabian Toothcarp and Mother-of-Pearl Fish, is native to streams, ponds and coastal lagoons of the Near East, including Egypt, Israel, Ethiopia, the Arabian Gulf, the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It can tolerate fresh and salty waters, with a subspecies native to the extremely salty Dead Sea.

The larger male (above centre) is black with pale blue spots and long, lemon-yellow fins and a banded tail; he grows to 8cm long. The female is plainer, silvery or brown, with dark vertical lines along her flank (above right).

It's survival is threatened by manmade pollution, habitat degradation and competition from non-native fish.