Edit Kosswigichthys asquamatus
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Name
Scientific name
Kosswigichthys asquamatus
Described by
Authority Sözer, Year 1942
Family
Aphaniidae
Common names
Hazar Toothcarp, Scaleless Killifish
Photograph credits
All 5 credited
Summary
The Hazar toothcarp, Kosswigichthys asquamatus, is a relict species endemic to Lake Hazar in southeastern Anatolia, Turkey. It has a more e…
Size and aquarium
Maximum size
40mm, standard length
Aquarium size
Minimum length 120 cm, Minimum depth 30 cm
Water
Water conditions
12–28°C
Hardness
15–35dGH
Conductivity
Not recorded
Behaviour
Temperament
Not recorded
Social needs
A shoal or group
Community suitability
Not for a community
Where it lives
Countries, regions, rivers and lakes
Turkey
Writing
Etymology
Kosswigichthys: named for Turkish zoologist and geneticist Curt Kosswig (1903-1982), who helped Sözer in his study of toothcarps, in combination with the Greek…
Distribution
Contrary to some of the available information this species is not found in Iran and is endemic to Lake Hazar in the eastern Taurus mountains, southeastern Anat…
Habitat
The water of the lake is rich in magnesium chloride with a hard, alkaline chemistry. This species has adapted to a more pelagic lifestyle than others in the ge…
Aquarium size
A pair or trio can be kept in a container with base dimensions of 60 cm x 30 cm or so but as a general rule members of this genus do better when maintained as …
Maintenance
Even for long-term maintenance a simple set-up will suffice although certain aspects of water chemistry appear to be mandatory (see 'water conditions'). The mo…
Water conditions
Temperature: Active over a wide temperature range of 12 – 28 °C. Artificial heating is not required in all but the coldest climates and it should be provided w…
Diet
Aphanius species are essentially micropredators feeding on small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae and other zooplankton although algae and other plant…
Behaviour and compatibility
Given its particular water requirements and precarious conservation status we strongly recommend maintaining it alone, the emphasis being on captive reproducti…
Sexual dimorphism
As with all members of the genus sexual dimorphism is pronounced. Males exhibit a body pattern consisting of 11-15 dark vertical bars with small dark spots on …
Reproduction
Captive reproduction is not difficult if the tank or container is properly arranged and maintained (see 'tank set-up'). It is a fractional spawner with females…
Notes
This little-known, relict species possesses some unique morphological and behavioural traits when compared with its congeners and the genus Kosswigichthys was …
References
References
4 on this profile