Fundulus luciae

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Fundulus luciae
Spotfin killifish, Fundulus luciae.png
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Fundulidae
Genus: Fundulus
Species:
F. luciae
Binomial name
Fundulus luciae
(S. F. Baird, 1855)
Synonyms

Hydrargyra luciae(Baird 1855)

The spotfin killifish (Fundulus luciae) is a member of the genus Fundulus . This hardy fish is notable for spending its entire life in sporadically flooded salt marsh habitat, sheltering in shallow pools, puddles, and small tidal rivulets. [2] It closely resembles the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) in shape and coloration, but the two species can be distinguished by dorsal fin ray count: 8–9 in the spotfin versus 11–12 in the mummichog. [3] Additionally, the dorsal fin of F. luciae originates farther back, and slightly behind the anal fin origin; in the mummichog, the dorsal fin begins anteriorly to the anal fin origin. [4] The spotfin killifish is named for the pronounced ocellus found on the posterior dorsal fin of adult males. It is a small fish, seldom attaining 50 millimetres (2.0 in) in total length. [5] Its distribution extends along the U.S. east coast from Massachusetts [6] to Georgia. [7]

Contents

Taxonomy

Fundulidae (Order: Cyprinodontiformes) is a family of topminnows, or killifishes, that are found in freshwater, marine, and brackish habitats in North America, Bermuda, and Yucatán. [8] "Topminnow" was coined following observations of fishes using aquatic surface respiration (ASR), a behavior used to acquire more oxygen by hovering parallel to the surface near the air-water interface, during periods of hypoxia. [9] The characteristic upturned mouth and flattened head of fundulids is believed to enhance ASR in low oxygen conditions. [9] The scientific name Fundulus means exactly the opposite. Fundus is Latin for "bottom," [10] and probably refers to the muddy substrate many common species inhabit and the propensity for fish to hide from predators in sediments. Killifish derives from the Dutch word "kill," meaning a stream or brook; it is a general name given to egg-laying toothcarps. [11]

The genus Fundulus contains 38 extant species, found along U.S. coastal and inland regions, Bermuda, Cuba, and Yucatán. [8] This species was described by Spencer Fullerton Baird as Hydrargyra luciae in 1855 with the type locality given as Robinson's Landing, Peck's Beach, opposite Beesley's Point, Cape May County. [12] Baird gave it the specific name luciae in honor of his daughter, Lucy Hunter Baird (1848-1913). [13]

Description

Fundulus luciae male, from Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay by Murdy, Birdsong, and Musick Fundulus luciae, male.png
Fundulus luciae male, from Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay by Murdy, Birdsong, and Musick

The spotfin killifish is the smallest member of its genus, [14] rarely exceeding 50 millimetres (2.0 in) total length [5] or 40 millimetres (1.6 in) standard length. [2] Larval fish transition to juvenile stage at around 10 mm standard length. [15] Sexual maturity is attained at approximately 24–27 mm TL (males) and 28–30 mm TL (females). [2] Body shape is elongated and less stocky than Fundulus heteroclitus, with an upturned mouth, flattened head and rounded caudal fin characteristic of the genus. Adults are sexually dimorphic, although both sexes are darker on top with a lighter belly. [3] Juveniles and adult females are similar in appearance, with a body that is grayish-green to olive green in color, lacking a dorsal ocellus, and generally without vertical bars, [2] [16] although females may sometimes have sidebars (usually faint). [17] Mature adult females may also have a visible sheath of tissue along the front of the anal fin, which is believed to function as an oviduct. [16] Adult males have 10–14 dark vertical bars and the eponymous dorsal ocellus. [2] [3] [16] During spawning season males develop dramatic coloration, consisting of vivid yellow-orange pigment extending over the belly, pelvic and anal fins, caudal peduncle, and caudal fin. [2] Breeding males may also develop contact organs–small fleshy protuberances–on the head, sides of the body, and medial fins. [2] Dorsal fin rays number 8–9 (usually 8) which is different from the mummichog, which has 11–12 dorsal fin rays. [3] The anal fin has 10 rays. The spotfin killifish's dorsal fin originates posteriorly to the anal fin origin; this is another useful character that differs from other fundulids, including F. heteroclitus. [18] While adults are distinct, larval fundulids can be tricky to ID to species. Longitudinal scale rows number 34–36. [3] The gill opening is restricted superiorly. [3]

Distribution and habitat

The spotfin killifish inhabits the irregularly flooded zone of salt marshes, characterized largely by Spartina spp.(cordgrass) and Juncus roemarianus (needlerush), where it lives in puddles, shallow pools, small tidal rivulets, culms at the base of plants, and even crab burrows. [2] [3] [15] It is a nonmigratory, permanent resident of the emergent marsh and stays even during low tides. [2] [15] Spotfin killifish prefer muddy substrate, [2] probably because mud retains water at low tide more effectively than sand. This species is euryhaline but prefers medium to high salinities. [19] In the wild, it has been captured from salinities ranging from 0–46 ppt. [20] Due to difficulty in sampling the dense mud and thick plants characterizing F. luciae's preferred habitat, the species was once thought to be rare; [17] [18] however, more recent studies have shown that it can be locally abundant. [21] [22] [20] [2]

Spotfin killifish are distributed along the east coast of the United States, ranging from Massachusetts [6] to Georgia. [7]

Conservation Status

The spotfin killifish is listed as a species of "least concern" (LC) by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [1]

Diet

Spotfin killifish have a diet similar to the mummichog, consisting of detritus, diatoms, foraminiferans, rotifers, insects (dipterans–including mosquitoes and larval chironomids, homopterans, coleopterans, hymenopterans, lepidopterans, odonates, and hemipterans), collembolans, arachnids (spiders, pseudoscorpions, and acarina), crustaceans (copepods, tanaids, ostracods, cladocerans, isopods, and amphipods), annelid worms, mollusks (gastropods), and fish eggs. [2] [16]

Physiology

Hardiness

Fundulids in general are known for high tolerance to extreme environmental fluctuation of parameters including temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. In the wild, F. luciae have been collected in salinities ranging from 0–46 ppt, although medium to high salinities are preferred. [19] In laboratory experiments, F. luciae tolerated salinities up to 106 ppt. [19] Abrupt exposure to fresh water was fatal, but with gradual transition to fresh water ~40% of fish survived. [19] Spotfin killifish have been found in temperatures ranging from 0.6–36.1 °C (33.1–97.0 °F). [7] [2] [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cyprinodontiformes</span> Order of fishes

Cyprinodontiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising mostly small, freshwater fish. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, are included. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally included with them. A colloquial term for the order as a whole is toothcarps, though they are not actually close relatives of the true carps – the latter belong to the superorder Ostariophysi, while the toothcarps are Acanthopterygii.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mummichog</span> Species of fish

The mummichog is a small killifish found along the Atlantic coast of the United States and Canada. Also known as Atlantic killifish, mummies, gudgeons, and mud minnows, these fish inhabit brackish and coastal waters including estuaries and salt marshes. The species is noted for its hardiness and ability to tolerate highly variable salinity, temperature fluctuations from 6 to 35 °C, very low oxygen levels, and heavily polluted ecosystems. As a result, the mummichog is a popular research subject in embryological, physiological, and toxicological studies. It is also the first fish ever sent to space, aboard Skylab in 1973.

<i>Fundulus</i> Genus of fishes

Fundulus is a genus of ray-finned fishes in the superfamily Funduloidea, family Fundulidae. It belongs to the order of toothcarps (Cyprinodontiformes), and therein the large suborder Cyprinodontoidei. Most of its closest living relatives are egg-laying, with the notable exception of the splitfin livebearers (Goodeidae).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fundulidae</span> Family of fishes

Fundulidae is the family of topminnows and North American killifishes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California killifish</span> Species of fish

The California killifish is a type of killifish (Fundulidae) found along the coast of southern California and Baja California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheepshead minnow</span> Species of fish

The sheepshead minnow, also known as sheepshead pupfish, is a species of ray-finned fish in the family Cyprinodontidae, the pupfishes. It is found in salt marsh and estuary environments and is native to the eastern coasts of North and Central America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Banded killifish</span> Species of fish

The banded killifish is a North American species of temperate freshwater killifish belonging to the genus Fundulus of the family Fundulidae. Its natural geographic range extends from Newfoundland to South Carolina, and west to Minnesota, including the Great Lakes drainages. This species is the only freshwater killifish found in the northeastern United States. While it is primarily a freshwater species, it can occasionally be found in brackish water.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Saltmarsh topminnow</span> Species of fish

The saltmarsh topminnow is a species of killifish for the family Fundulidae. It occurs in the costal wetlands of the Gulf of Mexico in the United States.

The Bermuda killifish is a small fish which is endemic to the islands of Bermuda in the western Atlantic Ocean. It belongs to the genus Fundulus in the killifish and topminnow family, Fundulidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rainwater killifish</span> Species of fish

The rainwater killifish is a small silvery fish with yellow flashes and diamond shaped scales that is widespread from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, through to Tampico, Mexico. It is commonly found in large numbers in fresh to brackish estuarine environments. It feeds on tiny crustaceans, mosquito larvae, small worms, and mollusks. It can reach up to 62 mm.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Golden topminnow</span> Species of fish

The golden topminnow is a fish of the genus Fundulus and is a United States native fish mostly distributed throughout the southeast, ranging from Kentucky and Ohio south into Florida. Although it has such a wide distribution throughout the south, the habitats and micro-habitats that it occupies do not differ much from one area of distribution to others. The golden topminnow is a small surface feeding fish that tends to reproduce late in the spring season and on into the early parts of the summer, and although the fry reach maturity fairly quickly the longevity of the golden topminnow is quite short. Because the golden topminnow is lower in the trophic level and is a small fish, it primarily feeds on small and/or drifting organisms at, or near the surface of, vegetated areas. This particular topminnow is not currently listed as an endangered species, nor does it have any particular type of management plan.

The blackspotted topminnow, Fundulus olivaceus, is a species of fish in the family Fundulidae: the topminnows and North American killifishes. It is native to the south-central United States, where it is known from the drainages of the Mississippi River from Illinois to the Gulf of Mexico and as far west as Galveston Bay.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Southern studfish</span> Species of fish

The southern studfish is a ray-finned fish of the family Fundulidae, the tooth carps, that is native to the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Plains topminnow</span> Species of fish

The plains topminnow is a species of freshwater topminnow found in North America. The fish has a small range within the United States of America which consists of two major populations.

The diamond killifish is a species of North American killifish found in salt marshes, hypersaline flats and mangrove along the Gulf Coast of the United States. This species grows to a length of 6 cm (2.4 in). It is found in the aquarium trade. It was previously recognized as, Adinia xenica, the only known member of its genus. Nucleotide analyses has reevaluated the phylogeny of the Funduliidae and placed the diamond killifish into the Fundulus genus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gulf killifish</span> Species of fish

The Gulf killifish is one of the largest members of the genus Fundulus; it is capable of growing up to 7 inches (18 cm) in length, whereas the majority of other Fundulus reach a maximum length of 4 inches (10 cm). Therefore, F. grandis is among the largest minnows preyed upon by many sport fish, such as flounder, speckled trout, and red drum. Fundulus derives from the Latin meaning "bottom," and grandis means "large". The Gulf killifish is native to the Gulf of Mexico from Texas to Florida and the eastern coast of Florida and the Caribbean Sea in the Atlantic Ocean. Threats to the survival of the Gulf killifish include extreme changes in salinity, changes in temperatures, and toxic events such as the hypoxic dead zone in Louisiana and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Gulf killifish is currently being used to test the effects of oil and oil dispersants on the physiology of marine species affected by these substances. This is significant to conservation biology, because with the continued extraction of oil and other natural resources from North American waters, it has become increasingly important to understand the risks and consequences in worst-case scenarios, such as the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and the lasting effects on the marine ecosystem.

<i>Aphanius danfordii</i> Species of fish

Aphanius danfordii, the Kızılırmak toothcarp or Sultan Sazlığı toothcarp, is a species of killifish belonging to the family Cyprinodontidae. It is endemic to the Kızılırmak River and the upper Seyhan River drainage systems and is now restricted to a few locations in the Sultan Sazlığı marshes. Though little data is available, the population of the fish seems to be declining. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated its conservation status as being "critically endangered" and fears it may become extinct in the wild if the drainage of the marshes continues.

<i>Fundulus pulvereus</i> Species of fish

The bayou killifish or bayou topminnow is a topminnow-like fish that thrives primarily in the shallow waters off the shores of the Americas, as well as fresh and brackish waters. Feeding off of small vertebrates and invertebrates, this fish displays reproduction techniques unique to its species.

<i>Fundulus nottii</i> Species of fish

Fundulus nottii, the bayou topminnow or southern starhead topminnow, is a fish of the family Fundulidae [1] found in the southeastern United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Seminole killifish</span> Species of fish

The Seminole killifish is a fish of the genus Fundulus, endemic to the U.S. state of Florida.

References

  1. 1 2 NatureServe (2013). "Fundulus luciae". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2013: e.T190476A18229371. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T190476A18229371.en . Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Byrne, DM. (1978). "Life history of the spotfin killifish, Fundulus luciae (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae), in Fox Creek Marsh, Virginia". Estuaries. 1 (4): 211–227. doi:10.2307/1351523. JSTOR   1351523. S2CID   86633439.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Murdy, EO. Birdsong, RS. Musick, JA. (1997). Fishes of Chesapeake Bay. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  4. ↑ Wiley, EO. Ghedotti, MJ. Ed, Carpenter, KE. (2002). "Cyprinodontidae, Fundulidae. Two family accounts" (PDF). United Nations FAO Species Identification Guide for Fisheries Purposes, The living marine resources of the Western Central Atlantic.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  5. 1 2 Able, KW. (1990). "Life history patterns of New Jersey salt marsh killifishes". Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science. 35 (2): 23–30.
  6. 1 2 Stallsmith, B. (1999). "A report to determine the range of spotfin killifish, Fundulus luciae, in the coastal marshes of Bristol County, Cape Cod, Nantucket, the Elizabeth Island and Martha's Vineyard". The Nature Conservancy and Massachusetts Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
  7. 1 2 3 Jorgenson, SC. (1969). "A Georgia record for the Cyprinodontoid fish, Fundulus luciae". Chesapeake Science. 10 (1): 65. doi:10.2307/1351216. JSTOR   1351216.
  8. 1 2 Ghedotti, MJ. Davis, MP. (2013). "Phylogeny, classification, and evolution of salinity tolerance of the North American topminnows and killifishes: family Fundulidae (Teleostei: Cyprinodontiformes)". Fieldiana Life and Earth Sciences. 7: 1–65. doi:10.3158/2158-5520-12.7.1. S2CID   86471536.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  9. 1 2 Lewis Jr, WM. (1970). "Morphological adaptations of cyprinodontoids for inhabiting oxygen deficient waters". Copeia. 1970 (2): 319–326. doi:10.2307/1441653. JSTOR   1441653.
  10. ↑ Romero, P. (2002). "An etymological dictionary of taxonomy". Unpublished.
  11. ↑ "FAQ–general killifish questions". American Killifish Association.
  12. ↑ Eschmeyer, William N.; Fricke, Ron & van der Laan, Richard (eds.). "Hydrargyra luciae". Catalog of Fishes . California Academy of Sciences . Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  13. ↑ Christopher Scharpf; Kenneth J. Lazara (26 April 2019). "Order CYPRINODONTIFORMES: Families PANTANODONTIDAE, CYPRINODONTIDAE, PROFUNDULIDAE, GOODEIDAE, FUNDULIDAE and FLUVIPHYLACIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 24 September 2019.
  14. ↑ Rosen, DE. (1973). Suborder Cyprinodontoidei. Superfamily Cyprinodontoidea. Families Cyprinodontidae, Poeciliidae, Anablenidae. Fishes of the Western North Atlantic, Part 6.
  15. 1 2 3 Kneib, RT. (1984). "Patterns in the utilization of the intertidal salt marsh by larvae and juveniles of Fundulus heteroclitus (Linnaeus) and Fundulus luciae (Baird)". Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology. 83 (1): 41–51. doi:10.1016/0022-0981(84)90116-3.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Kneib, RT. (1978). "Habitat, diet, reproduction and growth of the spotfin killifish, Fundulus luciae, from a North Carolina salt marsh". Copeia. 1978 (1): 164–168. doi:10.2307/1443844. JSTOR   1443844.
  17. 1 2 Richards, CE. Bailey, RL. (1967). "Occurrence of Fundulus luciae, spotfin killifish, on the seaside of Virginia's eastern shore". Chesapeake Science. 8 (3): 204–205. doi:10.2307/1351387. JSTOR   1351387.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. 1 2 Hildebrand, SF and Schroeder, WC. (1928). "Fishes of the Chesapeake Bay". United States Bureau of Fisheries Bulletin. 43 (1): 1–388.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  19. 1 2 3 4 Griffith, RW. (1974). "Environmental and salinity tolerance in the genus Fundulus". Copeia. 1974 (2): 319–331. doi:10.2307/1442526. JSTOR   1442526.
  20. 1 2 3 Able, KW. Talbot, CW. Shisler, JK. (1983). "The spotfin killifish, Fundulus luciae, is common in New Jersey salt marshes". Bulletin of the New Jersey Academy of Science. 28 (1): 7–11.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. ↑ Shields, MA. Mayes, CH. (1983). "Occurrence and habitat preference of Fundulus luciae (Baird) (Pisces: Cyprinodontidae) on a southeastern North Carolina salt marsh". Brimleyana. 9: 141–144.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  22. ↑ Yozzo, D.J. Ottman, F. (2003). "New distribution records for the spotfin killifish, Fundulus luciae (Baird), in the lower Hudson River estuary and adjacent waters". Northeastern Naturalist. 10 (4): 399–408. doi:10.2307/3858656. JSTOR   3858656.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
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