Pike topminnow | |
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Actinopterygii |
Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
Family: | Poeciliidae |
Subfamily: | Poeciliinae |
Tribe: | Gambusiini |
Genus: | Belonesox Kner, 1860 |
Species: | B. belizanus |
Binomial name | |
Belonesox belizanus Kner, 1860 | |
The pike topminnow (Belonesox belizanus), more commonly known as pike killifish and sometimes referred to as topminnow, [2] [3] is a species of poeciliid found from Mexico to Nicaragua. [1] [2] It has also been introduced to Florida, USA. [1] [2] [4] It is the only known member of its genus. [5] The pike topminnow was described in 1860 by Austrian ichthyologist Rudolf Kner, [6] who gave the type locality as Belize, which is reflected in this species' specific name. [7]
Unlike most poeciliids (which tend to be generalists or micropredators), this is a highly specialized predator, with an extremely flexible upper jaw that enables it to take very large prey items for its size. [8]
It grows typically to 9.7 cm (3.8 in) total length, exceptionally to 20 cm (7.9 in). [2] It has an elongated appearance with a flat back profile. The lower jaw is longer than the upper, and upturned. The pike topminnow has large eyes and a dorsal fin set far back on the body. It is a light, olive/brown color with light green iridescence and small black spots on the flanks. The belly is a lighter yellowish white. A dark spot is at the base of the caudal fin. [9] They are also a livebearing fish. [10] [3]
This fish can be found in the aquarium trade, but is not an easy aquarium resident, especially by poeciliid standards.
The flagfish, also known as the American flagfish or Florida flagfish, is a species of pupfish, a type of killifish from the family Cyprinodontidae which is endemic to Florida. It is found in the aquarium trade. Its common name derives from the dominant males' body pattern, which bears some resemblance to the Flag of the United States.
Maylandia lombardoi, is a 13 centimetres (5.1 in) long freshwater fish from the family Cichlidae. This species is popular in the aquarium hobby where it is sold under a variety of common names including: lombardoi mbuna, kenyi mbuna or kennyi mbuna or kenyi cichlid. This species is sometimes seen in the genus Metriaclima owing to a dispute in which a minority of cichlid researchers do not consider Maylandia valid (see Maylandia for discussion. The specific name honours the exotic fish dealer John Lombardo.
Dendrochirus biocellatus, the twospot turkeyfish, twinspot lionfish, twoeyed lionfish or ocellated lionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes and lionfishes. This species is widespread throughout the tropical waters of the Indo-West Pacific region, In the wild, the species eats small fish as well as shrimp.
Pethia stoliczkana is a fresh water tropical cyprinid fish native to the upper Mekong, Salwen, Irrawaddy, Meklong and upper Charo Phraya basins in the countries of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand, China and Sri Lanka.
The red-tailed silverside, or zona is a species of Madagascar rainbowfish endemic to the Mananjary River drainage in Madagascar. It is threatened by habitat loss and introduced species. It has often been confused with the related B. madagascariensis, which is common in the aquarium trade. In addition to meristics, the two can be separated by the exact colour pattern on their tail fin and the distinct red spot on the lower jaw of breeding male B. geayi. B. geayi was described in 1907 by Jacques Pellegrin from a type collected by the pharmacist and natural history collector Martin François Geay (1859-1910), who Pellegrin honoured with its specific name.
Nothobranchius luekei is a species of killifish in the family Nothobranchiidae. It is endemic to Tanzania. Its natural habitat is temporary pools. Its specific name honours the German aquarist Karl Heinz Lüke who was the first person to breed this species in an aquarium.
The blue lyretail, also known as the Gardner's killi and formerly as the steel-blue aphyosemion. It is a species of killifish endemic to freshwater habitats in Nigeria and Cameroon.
The saltmarsh topminnow is a species of killifish for the family Fundulidae. It occurs in the coastal wetlands of the Gulf of Mexico in the United States.
Heterandria formosa is a species of livebearing fish within the family Poeciliidae. This is the same family that includes familiar aquarium fishes such as guppies and mollies. Heterandria formosa is not as commonly kept in aquaria as these species. Despite the common name "least killifish", it belongs to the family Poeciliidae and not to one of the killifish families. H. formosa is one of the smallest fish species; the 1991 Baensch Aquarium Atlas listed it as the 7th smallest fish in the world, and as of 2006 it remains the smallest fish species found in North America.
Chrysiptera talboti, known commonly as Talbot's damselfish and Talbot's demoiselle, is a species of damselfish. It is a marine fish from the eastern Indian Ocean and western Pacific.
Scorpaena afuerae, the Peruvian scorpionfish, is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Scorpaenidae, the scorpionfishes. This species is found in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The Ceylon killifish is a species of killifish endemic to Sri Lanka. This species grows to a length of 9 cm (3.5 in). Males and females have a black dot at the rear end of the base of the dorsal fin. The females lay 50–150 eggs. The specific name of this fish honours the Inspector-General of Fisheries in India Francis Day (1829-1889), who first reported this fish, although he identified it as Aplocheilus panchax.
The Yucatan flagfish, also known as the snakeskin killifish, is a species of pupfish from the family Cyprinodontidae. It is found in the coastal waters of the Yucatan Peninsula, in Mexico and Belize. This species grows to a length of 4 centimetres (1.6 in) TL and is found in the aquarium trade. This species was described by Carl Leavitt Hubbs in 1936 with the type locality given as 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) east of Progreso, Yucatán, Mexico. It is the only known member of its genus. The name of the genus commemorates the American ichthyologist Samuel Garman (1843-1927) who was working on a revision of his 1895 monograph on the Cyprinodontidae at the time of his death. It is sometimes treated as a junior synonym of Jordanella.
Girardinus is a genus of poeciliids native to Cuba. The name of this genus honours the French zoologist Charles Frédéric Girard (1822-1895) for his work on the freshwater fish of North America.
Renova oscari is a species of killifish from the family Rivulidae which is endemic to the Orinoco River basin of Venezuela. This annual killifish grows to a standard length of 4.7 cm (1.9 in). This species is the only known member of its genus. It is found in the aquarium trade. This species was described in 1995 by Jamie E. Thomerson and Donald Charles Taphorn Baechle with the type locality given as the southwestern edge of Isla Raton in the vicinity of the village of Sabanita, upper Río Orinoco. The specific name honours Oscar León Mata (1964-2018), a killifish collector, environmental engineer and curator of fish at Museo de Ciencias Naturales in Guanare.
Scalicus is a genus of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Peristediidae, the armoured gurnards or armored searobins. These fishes are found in the Indo-Pacific region.
Lucania goodei, the bluefin killifish, is a small species of fish in the topminnow family Fundulidae. It is native to the southeastern United States, but has been introduced to California, Texas and North Carolina. Other common names for the fish include Florida blue dace.
Cepola schlegelii i is a species of marine ray-finned fish belonging to the family Cepolidae, the bandfishes. It is found in the Indo-West Pacific region.
Aplocheilus werneri is a species of killifish endemic to Sri Lanka. This species grows to a length of 7 cm (2.8 in). Its natural habitats are small, shallow, slow-flowing, heavily shaded streams and rivulets with a silt or clay substrate. They are largely use as an aquarium fish. The specific name honours the fish importer Andreas Werner who imported this species into Germany for the first time in 1964.
Nothobranchius lucius is a species of killifish, an African rivuline which is placed in the family Nothobranchiidae. It is endemic to Tanzania.