California killifish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids California killifish |
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Fundulus brevis Osburn & Nichols, 1916 |
The California killifish (Fundulus parvipinnis) is a small fish. It is a type of killifish. You can find it along the coasts of southern California and Baja California.
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California Killifish
What They Look Like
California killifish are small fish. They usually grow to about 11 centimeters (4.3 inches) long. Their bodies are thick and oval-shaped. They have a tail fin that looks somewhat square.
Their pelvic fins are small. The anal fin is long, with 11 to 13 rays. The fish are usually olive-green on top and yellowish-brown underneath. When it's time to breed, their backs turn dark brown. Their bellies and other fins become bright yellow.
Where They Live
These fish live in shallow coastal waters. You can find them in bays, estuaries (where rivers meet the sea), and marshes. They also live in the lower parts of streams. Their home range stretches from Morro Bay in California down to Magdalena Bay in central Baja California.
They are very tough fish. They can live in water with different amounts of salt. They also do well in water with low oxygen levels or some pollution.
What They Eat
California killifish eat many different small creatures. They feed on tiny animals that live on the bottom of the water (called benthic invertebrates). They also eat tiny animals that float in the water (called plankton).
Their diet includes snails, small crabs, and insects. They often search for food in plants that are covered by water during high tides.
Family Tree
The California killifish and the Baja California killifish (F. lima) are special. They are the only two types of Fundulus fish found on the west coast of North America. Most other Fundulus fish live on the east coast. Scientists think these two west coast species might even be different enough to be in their own separate group.
See Also
- Peter B. Moyle, Inland Fishes of California (University of California Press, 2002), pp. 313–315
- Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2006). "Fundulus parvipinnis" in FishBase. April 2006 version.
In Spanish: Chococo para niños
