Largefin pupfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Largefin pupfish |
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|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Cyprinodontiformes |
| Family: | Cyprinodontidae |
| Genus: | Cyprinodon |
| Species: |
C. verecundus
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| Binomial name | |
| Cyprinodon verecundus Humphries, 1984
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The largefin pupfish (Cyprinodon verecundus) is a small, special fish. It's also known as the cachorrito de dorsal larga. This fish belongs to the pupfish family. You can only find it in one place: Lake Chichancanab in Quintana Roo, Mexico. This means it is endemic to that lake.
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About the Largefin Pupfish
The largefin pupfish is a tiny fish. It's part of a group of fish called pupfish. Most types of pupfish live in their own separate places. But Lake Chichancanab is special. Many different kinds of pupfish live there together.
Home in Lake Chichancanab
In Lake Chichancanab, you can find seven different types of pupfish. These include the largefin pupfish (C. verecundus). Other types are C. beltrani, C. esconditus, C. labiosus, C. maya, C. simus, and C. suavium.
Living together, these pupfish have learned to use different parts of their habitat. They have also found different foods to eat. This helps them all survive in the same lake.
What the Largefin Pupfish Eats
Most pupfish usually eat algae and tiny bits of dead plants and animals. But the largefin pupfish is different. In Lake Chichancanab, it has a special diet. It mainly eats small creatures called amphipods. It also eats tiny shelled animals called bivalves.
Why the Largefin Pupfish Needs Help
The largefin pupfish is in danger. The IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) checked on this fish in 2019. They said it is a vulnerable species. This means it could become extinct if we don't protect it.
Threats to the Pupfish
Many of the special pupfish in Lake Chichancanab are almost gone. Only C. beltrani and C. labiosus are still found in good numbers. The other types, including the largefin pupfish, are nearly gone from the wild.
The main reason for their decline is new fish brought into the lake. These are called introduced species. Two big problems are the Nile tilapia and a type of tetra called Astyanax fasciatus. These new fish compete with the pupfish for food and space. They might also eat the pupfish.
Helping the Pupfish Survive
Even though the largefin pupfish is almost gone from the wild, there is hope. Some of these fish, including C. verecundus, are being kept safe. They live in special places where people care for them. This helps make sure they don't disappear completely.
 | William M. Jackson |
 | Juan E. Gilbert |
 | Neil deGrasse Tyson |
