Great Lakes Waterlife Photo Gallery

Fish

Killifishes

Family: Cyprinodontidae - Killifishes

Family Profile

Distribution and Habitat

N=Native, I=Introduced (exotic), X=Extinct, P=Extirpated

Image/Link	Scientific Name	Common Name	Lake Superior	Lake Michigan	Lake Huron	Lake Erie	Lake Ontario	Habitat
	Fundulus diaphanus	banded killifish					N	stream/creek/littoral
	Fundulus dispar	starhead topminnow		N				river, tributaries only
	Fundulus notatus	blackstripe topminnow		N		N		stream/creek, tributaries only

Table modified from "The Life of the Lakes: A Guide to the Great Lakes Fishery" MI Sea Grant Extension, Michigan State University.

Species Profiles

Fundulus diaphanus - banded killifish

Profile - Fishes of Minnesota
Profile - Inland Fishes of New York
Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Adult banded killifish eat a variety of items including small crustaceans (ostracods, copepods, and amphipods), aquatic insects (midge larvae, caddisfly larvae, and dragonfly nymphs), mayfly nymphs, flying insects, and plant seeds. They eat from all parts of the water column, including the surface. The diet of young banded killifish is limited to fewer items, such as ostracods, copepods, and midge larvae. Both young and adults tend to feed mostly actively in the afternoon. Length to 10 cm. Females grow larger than males.

Inland Fishes of New York

Fishes of Minnesota

Additional Photos:
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Fundulus dispar (Alt notti)- starhead topminnow

Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

At surface of clear, weedy backwaters. Feed on small crustaceans, aquatic insects and algae. Length to 8 cm.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Fishes of Minnesota

Fundulus notatus - blackstripe topminnow

Scientific Profile - Fishes of Wisconsin
Scientific Profile - University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

Feed on small invertebrates. Length to 7 cm.

University of Michigan Museum of Zoology

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