# Footless killifish

> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Footless_killifish
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Footless_killifish.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footless_killifish
> Source revision: 1355309036
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)

The **footless killifish** (***Tellia apoda***) is a [monotypic species](/source/Monotypic_species) of [killifish](/source/Killifish) in the [family](/source/Family_(taxonomy)) [Aphaniidae](/source/Aphaniidae). This species is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to springs and streams in the [Atlas Mountains](/source/Atlas_Mountains) of Algeria, between [Batna](/source/Batna,_Algeria) and [Constantine](/source/Constantine,_Algeria).[1] *T. apoda* was [described](/source/Species_description) in 1853 by Paul Gervais with the [type locality](/source/Type_locality_(biology)) given as the Springs of Tell, south of Constantine.[2]

*Tellia apoda* is [endemic](/source/Endemism) to [Algeria](/source/Algeria). It is the only member of family Aphaniidae which lacks [pelvic fins](/source/Pelvic_fin), which leads to the common name. This species can grow up to the average length of about 45 millimetres (2 in). *Tellia apoda* has the diet of eating small aquatic crustaceans, worms, insect larvae, zooplankton, algae, and occasionally plant material is eaten. If bred for the aquarium, this species can accept dried foods. Although they will eat dried food, it is better for them to be offered small live or frozen food such as *Artemia*, *Daphnia* or bloodworm.[3] They are known to be found in freshwater.[4]

The species was last observed in the wild in 1990. Other members of its family are fractional spawners, laying one or more eggs daily during a breeding season that peaks twice. Threats include water pollution, [water extraction](/source/Water_extraction) and [invasive species](/source/Invasive_species) such as *[Gambusia holbrooki](/source/Gambusia_holbrooki)*.[4]

## References

1. ["*Aphanius apodus* (GERVAIS, 1853)"](http://www.seriouslyfish.com/species/aphanius-apodus/). Seriously Fish. Retrieved 2 March 2013.

1. Freyhof, J. & Ford, M. (2022). "*Tellia apoda*". [doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-3.RLTS.T60776A137217150.en](https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-3.RLTS.T60776A137217150.en). Retrieved 5 October 2024.

---
Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Footless killifish](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footless_killifish) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footless_killifish?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.