Aphaniidae

Aphaniidae, the Oriental killifishes, are a family of the order Cyprinodontiformes. The 42 extant species of the family inhabit inland waters, rivers and lagoons. The distribution of these species extends from the entire Mediterranean region throughout the neighboring states of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf to southwest India. Several species in this family have very small distributions and are seriously threatened.

== Characteristics == Aphaniidae are small fishes that usually grow to a length of . Their bodies are moderately elongated and only slightly flattened at the sides. The mouth is short and their teeth are tricuspid. Scales are complete, but can also be reduced or completely absent. All fins are rounded, dorsal and anal fins similar and are almost symmetrical, the pelvic fins can also be very small. There is usually sexual dimorphism and females are usually larger and have dots or spots on a solid colored background. The males often have horizontal stripes. There can also be significant color dimorphism within a species, due to populations that lived completely isolated from one another.