| Plains topminnow | |
|---|---|
 | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Fundulidae |
| Genus: | Fundulus |
| Species: | F. sciadicus |
| Binomial name | |
| Fundulus sciadicus (Cope, 1865) | |
| Synonyms [2] | |
The plains topminnow (Fundulus sciadicus) 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 plains topminnow is small, almost always shorter than 2.5 inches (6.35 cm). [3] The fish has a flat head and an upturned (superior) mouth. [4] It lacks any distinctive markings. [4] The male plains topminnow's fins are iridescent and have a red tip with blue-purple bands, as well as a gold stripe on the body. Both males and females are usually olive-brown with white on its underside. [5] The plains topminnow also has bronze reflections with faint blue-green cross-hatching on its back and sides. [4] Its fins are colorless or yellowish in immature fish, females and non-breeding males. [4] There are no black bars on the fish's body, which makes it distinguishable from the banded killifish, a more common species, which is often found in the same habitats as the plains topminnow. [3] [5] Two other distinct features of the plains topminnow are its rounded caudal fin and the absence of an externally visible lateral line. [4] The plains topminnow has 33 to 37 ctenoid scales in its lateral line. The dorsal fin has 9-12 rays, the anal fin 12-15 rays and the origin of the anal fin is slightly forward of the dorsal fin, the pelvic fin is small and in the abdominal position. [3] The plains topminnow also has a squared caudal fin, a trait that many topminnows and killifish share. There is little sexual dimorphism between males and females except during breeding season, when males have bright orange-red fin tips. [4]
The historical distribution of plains topminnow includes two main populations. The first population of Plains topminnows is largely in Nebraska extending into Iowa, southwestern Minnesota, northeastern Colorado and southern South Dakota. The second population is located in Missouri, Kansas and south into Oklahoma. The plains topminnow was found only in one county each in Iowa and Kansas, the topminnow is now believed to be extirpated from both states, with recent studies supporting this. [6]
Plains topminnows prefer places with slow water to faster currents. [4] The plains topminnows are also usually found in places where there is shallow, clear water and heavy vegetation. Habitats with these characteristics include sloughs, backwaters and pools. The plains topminnow can be found in water with some turbidity and moderate current, however they prefer the conditions listed above. [5] Most studies rank the plains topminnow as moderately tolerant to hyperthermic and hypoxic conditions. [4] Habitat loss is a major concern for this species (see Conservation ). [4] Plains topminnows prefer water within the range of 5 °C-22 °C. [7]
The plains topminnow spawns in the same vegetated areas that it lives in. Males develop red coloring on their fins and, both males and females gain a black border around their medial fins. The most studied populations in Nebraska show breeding color on the plains topminnow males from June 20 to July 21. [4] However, the plains topminnow has been observed spawning anytime between late March to early August. The wide range of spawning time is believed to be due to water temperature. Thus, plains topminnow spawning times usually depend on the latitude of individual populations. [8] The plains topminnow breeding season was observed at 60 days in Missouri and Nebraska, regardless of latitude and water temperature. [4] Breeding behavior for the plains topminnow, demonstrated in wild individuals transplanted into an aquarium, includes direct male competition. The males size each other up by swimming in circles and attempting to bite the dorsal fin of the other male, some males will do this for up to 90 minutes. This behavior establishes a few dominant breeding males in each population. [4] The males and females were seen moving wiggling in algae in their habitat, this was assumed to be ovipositing behavior since eggs were observed in the algae after the wiggling behavior. [4] Mature plains topminnow eggs are 1.8 to 2.0 mm in diameter. [8]
Although the plains topminnow is not considered a federally threatened, endangered, or sensitive species and has a Global Heritage Status Rank of G4 (apparently secure) from the Nature Conservancy, [6] there has been a declining trend in the distribution of the plains topminnow, particularly in the Platte and Republican River Drainages. [6] Currently, the plains topminnow are found in only 34.4% of sites that have historically been inhabited by the plains topminnow. [6] In Minnesota, the plains topminnow is present in all historical locations, however, abundance is lower than normal at 69.2% compared to past collections. [6] The primary threats to the plains topminnow are physical or chemical habitat degradation, stream fragmentation, introduction of nonnative fishes, reservoir creations, sewage discharge, feedlot runoff, intense livestock grazing and pumping of saline groundwater. [4] It is also believed that eutrophication, causing low oxygen conditions and high ammonia concentrations, is adding to the depletion of plains topminnow levels. [4] In order to prevent the decline of plains topminnow populations, certain measures should be taken, such as securing in stream flow, minimizing drying of stream channels due to irrigation withdrawals, establishing preserves in perennial stream reaches and the management of livestock around plains topminnow populated waters. [4]
The food habits of the plains topminnow are not well studied, however, they are believed to feed on a varied diet. The diet may include insects, mainly larvae; snails, and Ostracod crustaceans. [4]
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.
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.
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.
The blackstripe topminnow, Fundulus notatus, is a small freshwater fish in the family Fundulidae, found in central North America.
The Barrens topminnow is a species of freshwater fish in the family Fundulidae, which is in need of management so that it may continue to and increasingly survive in the wild. There are many potential causes of decline of this species including the invasive western mosquitofish that will replace native species on a population level, wadding piscivorous birds preying on adults, and the overall restricted distribution of the species. Managing for this species is vital for its success, but to do so there must be an understanding of the species' characteristics. It is endemic to a small portion of Tennessee in the Elk River and the West Hickory creek of the Cumberland river drainage. living up to only 3 years the life span of F. julisia is very short. In many cases the majority of the population does not even reach that age. Most adult males are eaten by birds because of their bright coloration during breeding season. Current management plans are in place for the improvement of the species such as captive breeding and reintroduction, and also private management of streams and land. Yet, more can be done to aid them in their survival efforts. Buffer zones around streams can be created to promote the health of the stream and close observation of the introduced populations needs to be a priority. With only three small original populations left in the wild it is important that species survive in captivity, but more so in its natural environment.
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 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.
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.
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.
Etheostoma exile, the Iowa darter, is a species of freshwater ray-finned fish, a darter from the subfamily Etheostomatinae, part of the family Percidae, which also contains the perches, ruffes and pikeperches. It is, along with about 17 other species of darters, is native to the lakes and streams of Iowa.
The Starhead topminnow is a native United States species that ranges from the Ouachita River drainage in Louisiana, the Big Black river in Mississippi, and extends northward into the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan basins to the southern Michigan and southern Wisconsin areas. The Starhead topminnow is endangered due to the removal of aquatic vegetation and the continued development of land that infringes on its habitat.
The northern studfish is the largest of the killifish and is native to the southcentral United States.
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.
The southern studfish is a ray-finned fish of the family Fundulidae, the tooth carps, that is native to the southeastern United States.
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.
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.
Fundulus zebrinus is a species of fish in the Fundulidae known by the common name plains killifish. It is native to North America, where it is distributed throughout the Mississippi River, Colorado River, and Rio Grande drainages, and other river systems; many of its occurrences represent happy introduced populations.
Fundulus nottii, the bayou topminnow or southern starhead topminnow, is a fish of the family Fundulidae [1] found in the southeastern United States.
The spotfin killifish 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. It closely resembles the mummichog 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. 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. 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 mm in total length. Its distribution extends along the U.S. east coast from Massachusetts to Georgia.
Cubanichthys cubensis, the Cuban killifish, is a species of killifish from the family Cyprinodontidae, the pupfishes which is endemic to Cuba.
