Rainwater killifish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rainwater killifish |
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The rainwater killifish (Lucania parva) is a small silvery fish with yellow flashes and diamond shaped scales that is widespread from Cape Cod, Massachusetts, through to Tampico, Mexico. It is commonly found in large numbers in fresh to brackish estuarine environments. It feeds on tiny crustaceans, mosquito larvae, small worms, and mollusks. It can reach up to 62 mm (2.44 inches).
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Description
The rainwater killifish (Lucania parva) is a small, silvery fish with a compressed body and a small upturned mouth. It is characterized by its large scales, each surrounded by a faint dark outline
The fish has a chunky body, rounded dorsal and caudal fins, and is olive-colored on the back with silvery-blue sides and yellow bellies. The male fish's fins are dusky orange to yellow, fringed with a thin black edge, except for the pectoral fins, and usually have a black spot on the front of the dorsal fin.
Diet
The fish feeds on larval crustaceans, mainly cyclopoid copepods, and also consumes invertebrates such as brine shrimp and amphipods
Habitat
The rainwater killifish is native to coastal waters from Massachusetts to Tampico, Mexico, and is commonly found in large numbers in fresh to brackish estuarine environments. It inhabits vegetated quiet water and usually swims several inches below the surface.
The rainwater killifish is known to be able to withstand a range of salinities, from brackish water to high salinity waters.
Reproduction and life cycle
In Texas, females began ripening in February, and a few were gravid in July; peak spawning in May and June. During spawning, male and female swim into vegetation with fine leaves; there eggs are released and fertilized; eggs have mucous threads with which they are attached to plant material.
A courting male swims in loops slightly below the female, waiting for the female to respond by stopping; after a female stops, the male moves under her flicking his head against her throat; pair moves slowly toward surface of the water, while male continues to rub his head against underside of the female; when they are near surface, female swims into vegetation having fine leaves or algal masses, and the male follows.
Freshly laid eggs are spherical, nearly colorless, having chorionic threads; live eggs averaging 1.23 mm in diameter; eggs hatch in 6 days at water temperature of 23.9 degrees Celcius. More than one brood may be produced per year by a single female.
Distribution
Native to coastal waters from Massachusetts to Tampico, Mexico (Hubbs et al. 1991). Introduced into California, Nevada, Oregon, and Utah (Hubbs and Miller 1965). Locally abundant in lower Pecos River drainage, New Mexico, not ascending tributary streams far above mouth.
Species description and etymology
The rainwater killifish was formalle described by Spencer Fullerton Baird and Charles Frédéric Girard as Cyprinodon parvus with the type locality given as Beesley's Point, New Jersey and as Greenport, Long Island, New York. The name of the genus, Lucania, is a Native American word from an unknown language and of unknown meaning which presumably Girard liked the sound of. Girard named this species as the type species of the genus Lucania in 1859 but using the junior synonym Limia venusta. The specific name is Latin for "small".
See also
In Spanish: Lucania parva para niños
