Saltmarsh topminnow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Saltmarsh topminnow |
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Zygonectes jenkinsi Evermann, 1892 |
The saltmarsh topminnow is a small fish that belongs to a group called killifish. It is part of the Fundulidae family of fish. This fish lives in the wet, marshy areas along the coast of the Gulf of Mexico in the United States.
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What Does the Saltmarsh Topminnow Look Like?
Saltmarsh topminnows do not have bright colors. Their bodies often have a pattern that looks like criss-cross lines on their back and sides. These lines can be gray-green or very light. They also have about 12 to 30 dark, round spots. These spots are usually in rows along the middle of their body. They stretch from just above their front fins all the way to the base of their tail fin.
Where Do Saltmarsh Topminnows Live?
Saltmarsh topminnows make their homes in special places called estuaries. These are areas where fresh river water mixes with salty ocean water. They also live in coastal salt marshes and quiet backwater areas. This includes shallow, winding waterways found in Spartina marshes, which are types of grassy wetlands.
These fish are found only in certain areas. They live in brackish water, which is water that is saltier than fresh water but less salty than sea water. You can find them from Galveston Bay in Texas all the way to Escambia Bay in the western part of Florida.
Why Are Saltmarsh Topminnows Important?
Saltmarsh topminnows are an important part of the food web in their habitat. They help keep the marsh ecosystem healthy. Their presence shows that the coastal wetlands are in good condition.
What Threats Do Saltmarsh Topminnows Face?
The saltmarsh topminnow faces several serious dangers. Changes to their habitat are a big problem. This includes things like dredging, which is when people dig up the bottom of waterways. Marsh erosion, where the land in the marsh washes away, is also a major threat. These activities destroy the places where the fish live and find food.
How Are Saltmarsh Topminnows Protected?
The saltmarsh topminnow is listed as a Vulnerable species. This means it is at risk of becoming endangered if we do not protect it.
Different groups are working to help these fish:
- The American Fisheries Society says the fish is Threatened in Florida. This means it is likely to become endangered soon. In other places, they say it is Vulnerable.
- The fish is also listed as a "Species of Greatest Conservation Need" in Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi. This means these states believe the fish needs special attention to help it survive.
In 2006, a special grant program helped fund a study. The Mississippi Department of Marine Resources used this money to study the saltmarsh topminnow. Their goal was to create a plan to help protect the fish and put that plan into action. You can learn more about this program from the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) here.
How Was the Saltmarsh Topminnow Discovered?
The saltmarsh topminnow was first described in 1892. It was given the scientific name Zygonectes jenkinsi by a scientist named Barton Warren Evermann. He found the first known example of this fish in Dickinson Bayou, which is near Galveston, Texas.
The second part of its scientific name, jenkinsi, was chosen to honor Oliver Peebles Jenkins (1850-1935). He was an American scientist who studied how living things work, called a physiologist, at Stanford University.
You can find more information about species of concern from the NMFS here.
Images for kids
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A saltmarsh topminnow.
See also
In Spanish: Fundulus jenkinsi para niños
