Esmaeilius

This species was available in the aquarium hobby for a number of years prior to publication of the official description and was generally referred to as A. sp. 'Namak' or A. sp. 'Namak River'. It can be distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: 10–12 anal-fin rays; 28–32 lateral line scales, 10–13 caudal peduncle scales; 8–10 gill rakers; 12–19, commonly 1...

This species is still sometimes listed as a species of Lebias by some sources although that name has long been considered a synonym of Cyprinodon by most authorities and an ICZN committee voted to suppress the name in favour of Aphanius as recently as 2003. It was known as A. persicus until late 2011 when it was reclassified due to that name being preoccupied by a Late Miocene fossil species previously referred to as Brachylebias persicus Priem 1908. This change was necessary because Gau...

The Iranian Plateau is home to a diverse group of Aphanius with four species already described and several awaiting description. These are among the most ancient in the genus having divereged away from a common ancestor around 20 - 24 million years ago. Among them this species is most closely related to A. sophiae from the Kor River system but can be distinguished by differences in patterning. Males of A. sophiae lack the characteristic darkcolouration seen in A. vladykovi and females possess a ...