Tristramella

Tristramella is a comprehensive two types genus of fish belonging to the family of cichlids ( Cichlidae ). It comes in the Middle East, the Sea of ​​Galilee, the Huleh Lake in Upper Galilee, in the region of Jordan before making it for her sister genus Iranocichla the second purely middle eastern species of cichlids. Populations in swamps and ponds around Damascus are extinct. The genus was named in honor of the English clergyman, Biblical scholar, explorer and ornithologist Henry Baker Tristram.

Features

The various species and subspecies of the genus Tristramella reach a length of 13 -28cm. In most cases the fish have 29 vertebrae, more rarely 28 or 30 is characteristic of the genus is the specific expression of the joint surface between the skull and the upper Pharyngealia and the dentition of Pharyngealia. The front end of the swim bladder is supported by a bony apophysis, extending from the third to the fifth vertebra to the fourth vertebra as the main carrier. Most of this structure is strongly asymmetric and left and right side of the vertebrae have a very different part of it.

As with all cichlids of the tribe Oreochromini is at Tristramella types of mouth brooders.

Species

• Tristramella sacra ( Günther, 1864)
• Tristramella simonis ( Günther, 1864)

The IUCN lists the two extinct subspecies Tristramella simonis magdelainae and Tristramella simonis intermedia as a separate species.