Chologaster cornuta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chologaster cornuta |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Phylum: | |
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| Order: |
Percopsiformes
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| Family: |
Amblyopsidae
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| Genus: |
Chologaster
Agassiz, 1853
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| Species: |
C. cornuta
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| Binomial name | |
| Chologaster cornuta Agassiz, 1853
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The swampfish (scientific name: Chologaster cornuta) is a unique freshwater fish. It's also known as the ricefish or riceditch killifish. This fish belongs to a special family called Amblyopsidae. It's the only living species in its group, known as Chologaster.
You can find the swampfish only in rivers and streams along the Atlantic Coast of the United States. Its home stretches from southeastern Virginia down to central Georgia. These small fish usually live for about two years. Their scientific name, cornuta, refers to a tiny horn-like bump near their eyes. Swampfish are typically about 4 cm (1.6 in) long, but some can grow up to 7 cm (2.8 in).
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What Makes the Swampfish Special?
This fish is part of the Amblyopsidae family. This family is often called "cavefish" or "blindfish." That's because many of its members live in dark caves and have lost their eyesight.
- Color: The swampfish is brown on its back and creamy white underneath. It has three dark stripes along each side of its body.
- Habitat: Unlike most of its relatives, the swampfish lives above ground in swamps. It doesn't live in caves.
- Eyesight: While many cavefish have tiny, non-working eyes, the swampfish has eyes that work just fine!
How Does the Swampfish Live?
Swampfish are quite shy and active mostly at night. This makes them hard to spot!
Nighttime Habits
- Feeding: They mostly eat small crustaceans and aquatic insects. They hunt for food when it's dark.
- Spawning: Swampfish lay their eggs in March and April.
- Hiding: They are very sensitive to touch and light. If they sense either, they quickly hide at the bottom. They stay hidden until it's dark again.
Where They Live
You can find swampfish among plants and debris in swamps and quiet parts of streams. They like water with lots of oxygen. They can also handle a wide range of temperatures. They are often found in small, shady streams where the water stays cool, usually below 23 °C (73 °F). These areas are full of food for them, like tiny amphipods, ostracods, and copepods.
