Fundulus majalis
Striped Killifish
NS
G5
Collection Details
Specimens
Photos
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Cyprinodontiformes
Fundulidae (Topminnows)
Fundulus
Fundulus majalis (Striped Killifish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
Composite (multiple sources) (McEachran, J.D. and J.D. Fechhelm. Fishes of the Gulf of Mexico. University of Texas Press, Austin.)
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Characters
Moderately slender and moderately compressed posteriorly, with a long snout and a moderately stout caudal peduncle. Dorsal profile of head is straight to slightly concave. Snout length is about 2 to 3 times eye diameter. Mouth is small and nearly horizontal. Lower jaw extends beyond upper jaw. Jaws have outer row of conical, sharp-pointed teeth and inner band of villiform teeth. Gill rakers on first arch are short and number 6 to 10. Operculum is attached to shoulder girdle considerably above pectoral fin base. Measurements (% SL) vary between males and females. Pectoral fin has 16 to 21 rays. Dorsal fin originates posterior to mid-distance from snout to caudal fin base and has 11 to 16 rays. Anal fin originates slightly posterior to dorsal fin origin and has 9 to 13 rays. Mandibular pores number 7 or 8. Lateral scale rows number 33 to 37.
Males are olivaceous dorsally and bronze ventrally, with 10 to 15 narrow dark bars, narrower than interspace between bars, and dark blotch above pectoral fin base. Dorsal and anal fins are pigmented from base to about midlength, and anal fin is longer than in females. Females are olivaceous dorsally and laterally and white ventrally, with narrow black bars or longitudinal stripes on side. Dorsal and anal fins either lack pigment or are sparsely pigmented.
Distribution
Western North Atlantic along the coast from New Hampshire to southeastern Florida (Lake Worth, Palm Beach County) and in the Gulf of Mexico from the west coast of Florida (Collier County) to Tampico, Mexico. An allopatric population occurs in the Florida Keys and Florida Bay.
Habitat Associations
Bays, estuaries, and coastal marshes, although it also occurs along ocean beaches. Depth range not specified.
Biology
Maximum known size is 180 mm TL.
Inhabits bays, estuaries and coastal marshes (Ref. 5723). Feeds on worms, small crustaceans, mollusks and insects (Ref. 93252). Not a seasonal killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; mating system: polyandry; nonguarders (open water/substratum egg scatterers); parental care: none. May spawn several broods of eggs in a single season (Ref. 38947).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC), assessed 2014-01-09. Resilience: High (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Phylogeny and Morphologically Similar Fishes
Distinguished from other species of the family by the combination of characters described.
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial.
References
Hildebrand and Schroeder 1928
Gunter 1945 (as F. similis)
Hoese and Moore 1977 (as F. similis)
Relyea 1983
C. R. Robins et al. 1986
Boschung 1992
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Robins, C.R. and G.C. Ray (1986) A field guide to Atlantic coast fishes of North America. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, U.S.A. 354 p.
Smith, C.L. (1997) National Audubon Society field guide to tropical marine fishes of the Caribbean, the Gulf of Mexico, Florida, the Bahamas, and Bermuda. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., New York. 720 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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