Key Characteristics:
- More post-anal myomeres than pre-anal.
- Total post-anal myomeres less than 25
- Caudal peduncle (a portion of the body right before the caudal fin) is the same thickness as the fin
- Large upturned mouths.
- Big eyes.
- Single dorsal fin.
- Adults are usually in the 20+ mm range/yellowish color with dark lateral bands.
- Larvae have lots of scattered melanophores giving a “dusky” appearance.
- Body not elongated, eel-shaped, round in transverse section, uniformly pigmented (1B)
- Chin barbels absent (3B)
- Snout short, its length usually less than 10% TL; median fins otherwise (5B)
- Median fins or finfolds showing distinct separation (7B)
- No adipose fin, or demarcation of one, in finfold (10B)
- Preanal myomeres significantly less than postanal myomeres (difference greater than five myomeres) (14B)
- Postanal myomeres less than 35, total myomeres less than 50, chin barbel absent (16B)
- Postanal myomeres less than 25, preanal length usually greater than 40% TL (17B)
- Mouth superior, single dorsal fin (18A)
- Cyprinodontidae/Fundulidae
Adult History
- Physical Description
- 10-20 brown/green bars along the sides, the tail is rounded, slender body, the continuous groove between upper lip and snout, 40-49 lateral scales, 13-15 dorsal rays and 10-12 anal rays, the dorsal origin is ahead or equal to the anal origin, and pelvic fins ahead of dorsal origin
- Spawning Habitat
- In shallow portions of brooks, creeks, rivers, lakes, and ponds with vegetation
- Spawning Substrate
- Eggs grow on rocks or aquatic plants
- Spawning Behavior
- Male will establish and defend its territory
- Male’s color will intensify to attract females
- Females will lay a cluster of eggs
- Time of Year
- May-August in Lake Michigan
- Spawning typically takes place at water temperatures of 65-90°F
- Diet
- Small crustaceans, aquatic insects, flying insects, and seeds