Maltese Freshwater Fish
Because of the dearth of freshwater in the Maltese Islands, freshwater organisms are overall rather rare, particularly those species which require a continuous supply of water. The dearth in persistent freshwater courses results in a restricted distribution of these acquatic species, including fish and amphibians.

The only true brackish-water fish in the Maltese Islands, which apparently occurs as a local race is the Killifish Aphanius fasiatus. Populations of this fish are known from various brackish-water inlets such as Marsa, Salina, Kalafrana, Marsascala and Marsaxlokk. The fish has also been introduced at the Ghadira Nature Reserve. Most populations are threatened because of altered habitats.

Class: ACTINOPTERYGII
Order: MICROCYPRINI
Family: CYPRINODONTIDAE
Aphanius fasiatus Nardo (1827)
Killifish
maltese: Buzaqq

This fish has a stock aspect with a short muzzle and a large tail fin. The mouth is proturding, the later line indisinct. The dorsal fin is directed backwards a little in front of the base of the anal fin. The edge of the caudal fin is straight or slightly curved. The males grow up to length of about 10 cm, the females to 9 cm. There are 25-29 scales longitudinally; 12-14 laterally. Fin counts: Dorsal 10-13, anal 9-13, pectoral 14or15, pelvic 6or7. Colouration: The overall colour of the male is aquamarine, darker on the back and lighter on the belly. The side is adorned with 0-15 dark vertical bars. The dorsal fin has a dark edge and the tail fin is banded. Other fins are yellowish. The female shows lighter colours than the male and the bars on her body are much narrower than those of the male, also her fins are clear. The fin colouration and number of vertical bars may vary according to the locality, though this may reflect environmental conditions rather than genetic variation.

Reference: Cilia, J.L.: Il-Buzaqq (Aphanius fasiatus). Potamon, 1986, 15:131-136