Cyprinodon macularius
Desert Pupfish
Federal:
Endangered
NS
G1
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cyprinodontiformes
Cyprinodontidae (Pupfishes)
Cyprinodon
Cyprinodon macularius (Desert Pupfish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2025. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, version 04/2025.)
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Characters
Body shape: fusiform / normal.
Distribution
North America: lower Colorado River drainage, including Gila River system and south through southern Arizona and California, USA (including Salton Sea) into northern Mexico.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. benthopelagic.
Biology
Usually occurs over mud or sand in springs, marshes, lakes and pools of creeks. 7.2 cm max TL (Ref. 5723). Not a seasonal killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139). Also occur in hot springs with temperatures up to 45°C and salinities up to 20% (Ref. 13371).
Max length: 5.0 cm TL; max age: 2 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none.
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU), assessed 2019-02-08. Resilience: High (tmax=2).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest; aquarium: commercial.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Riehl, R. and H.A. Baensch (1991) Aquarien Atlas. Band. 1. Melle: Mergus, Verlag für Natur-und Heimtierkunde, Germany. 992 p.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Huber, J.H. (1996) Killi-Data 1996. Updated checklist of taxonomic names, collecting localities and bibliographic references of oviparous Cyprinodont fishes (Atherinomorpha, Pisces). Société Française d'Ichtyologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, 399 p.
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