Kingdom Animalia Order Perciformes Subfamily Pseudocrenilabrinae Scientific name Iranocichla hormuzensis Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Family Cichlidae Tribe Tilapiini Higher classification Cichlid | |
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Similar Cichlid, Tristramella, Danakilia, Gobiocichla, Thysochromis | ||
Iranocichla hormuzensis is a species of mouthbrooding fish from the cichlid family. It is restricted to freshwater and brackish habitats in the drainage of the Mehran River in southern Iran above the Straits of Hormuz. It was formerly regarded as the only species in its genus, but another species, I. persa was described in 2016. These are the only cichlids native to Iran and among the few cichlids in Asia.
I. hormuzensis attains a length of about 10 cm (4 in). It has a stout body. Young exhibit a silver-green coloration with no fin pigmentation. The adult is mostly black with silver speckles on the body and barring on the dorsal fin. Unlike I. persa, the breast and head of nuptial male I. hormuzensis is blackish (not orange). Although it has not been rated by the IUCN, some authorities believe it is highly threatened.
