Fundulus olivaceus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Fundulus olivaceus |
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The blackspotted topminnow (scientific name: Fundulus olivaceus) is a type of fish. It belongs to the Fundulidae family, which includes topminnows and North American killifishes. This fish lives in the south-central United States. You can find it in rivers and streams that flow into the Mississippi River, from Illinois all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. It also lives as far west as Galveston Bay in Texas.
This fish prefers clear streams with fast-moving water. It likes areas with sand or gravel at the bottom. You can often spot them near thick plants along the stream banks. Blackspotted topminnows eat both plants and animals. Their main diet includes insects and other small creatures like spiders.
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What the Blackspotted Topminnow Looks Like
The blackspotted topminnow has a long, slender body. It can grow up to about 9.7 centimeters (almost 4 inches) long. Its color ranges from brownish-yellow to olive-green on its upper side. It has a wide, dark stripe along its side. You can also see clear dark spots on its body.
Male blackspotted topminnows have longer fins than females. During the breeding season, the males' fins might turn a yellowish color. This fish looks a lot like the blackstripe topminnow (Fundulus notatus). Both have a dark stripe on their sides. However, the blackspotted topminnow has darker and more spots. Sometimes, these two species can even hybridize, meaning they can have offspring together.
What Blackspotted Topminnows Eat
Blackspotted topminnows are not picky eaters. They enjoy a variety of small creatures. Their diet mainly consists of different types of arthropods. These include insects and other small invertebrates. They also eat algae, which is a type of plant-like organism.
Where Blackspotted Topminnows Live
This fish likes to live near the surface of the water. They can be found in quiet or flowing waters. They prefer relatively clear streams, small rivers, and headwaters. These areas usually have sand or gravel bottoms. You will often see them along the edges of the water. They like to hide among thick groups of plants that grow out of the water.
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Blackspotted topminnows reproduce from March to early September. The busiest time for them to lay eggs is in May. Sometimes, large male fish will claim an area of about three square meters for themselves. Males usually don't like females in their territory, except when they are spawning. Spawning happens in the morning or evening.
If these fish are kept in an aquarium, they become less aggressive. However, when it's time to breed, the males start to show their wild side again. They will approach each other head-on. They spread their gill covers and throat areas, much like a cichlid or betta fish. Then, they might slap and bite each other's sides. This continues until one fish gives up.
The eggs are about 2.14 millimeters wide when they are ready. The outer part of the egg has tiny threads. These threads are usually grouped together in one spot, forming a small tuft. The eggs hatch in about 10 to 14 days. Blackspotted topminnows typically live for about three years.
Where Blackspotted Topminnows are Found
The blackspotted topminnow lives in many places. Along the Gulf Coast, you can find them from Galveston Bay in Texas. Their range extends east to the Choctawhatchee River system in Florida. They also live in the middle Chattahoochee River drainage in Georgia.
In the Mississippi River basin, they are found from the Gulf of Mexico. Their range goes north to southeastern Kansas, central Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and eastern Tennessee.
What Their Name Means
The scientific name of the blackspotted topminnow is Fundulus olivaceus. Let's break down what it means:
- The genus name, Fundulus, comes from the Latin word Fundus. This word means "bottom."
- The species name, olivaceus, means "olive-colored." This describes the fish's greenish-brown color.
See also
In Spanish: Fundulus olivaceus para niños
