Bluefin killifish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bluefin killifish |
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The bluefin killifish (scientific name: Lucania goodei) is a tiny fish. It belongs to a group of fish called topminnows. This small fish is known for its pretty colors, especially the males.
It naturally lives in the southeastern part of the United States. However, it has also been moved by people to new places like California, Texas, and North Carolina. Sometimes, people call it the Florida blue dace.
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Where Bluefin Killifish Live
The bluefin killifish is originally from the southeastern United States. You can find it all over Florida, except for the far western part of the panhandle. It also lives in some rivers in southeastern Alabama. Sometimes, it is found along the Atlantic coast up to central South Carolina.
People have also introduced this fish to other states. This means they were brought to new places by humans. Now, you can find them in Texas, North Carolina, and California.
What Bluefin Killifish Look Like
The bluefin killifish is a very small fish. Most of the time, it grows to be about 2.9 centimeters (about 1 inch) long. That's about the length of your thumb!
The biggest one ever recorded was about 6 centimeters (about 2.4 inches) long. These fish usually live for about two years.
How Bluefin Killifish Live
Bluefin killifish like to live in calm waters. They prefer ponds and streams that have lots of plants. These places usually have very little or no water current.
They are often found in areas where fresh water comes out of the ground, like springs. These fish are quite tough. They can even live in water that is a little bit salty. They can also survive in water with low oxygen. When oxygen is low, they use their special upturned mouth to gulp air from the surface. Otherwise, they swim deeper in the water. Unlike some other killifish, they do not disappear during certain seasons.
Naming the Bluefin Killifish
The bluefin killifish was first described in 1880. A scientist named David Starr Jordan gave it its scientific name, Lucania goodei. He found the first example of this fish in the Arlington River in Florida. This river flows into the St. Johns River.
The second part of its scientific name, goodei, honors another American scientist. His name was George Brown Goode. He was an expert on fish and was the one who collected the first bluefin killifish for study.
