Killifish - Evolution And Taxonomy, Ecology, Biology, Economic Importance, Ecological Importance
fish common wide fundulus
Killifish (Fundulus spp.) are small fish tolerant of a wide range of temperatures and salinity, found throughout temperate and tropical waters on every continent except Australia and Antarctica. Not to be confused with the other large group of small fish in the same order (Cyprinodontiformes) known as minnows, killifish differ in having an incomplete lateral line, often not extending past the head, and a protruding lower jaw which allows them to feed from the surface. This characteristic gave rise to their other common name "top-minnow." Mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) are the most well known species of killifish. Millions of these common intertidal fish have been removed from the East coast of North America since the 1800s for use in a wide variety of experiments, including a recent trip into outer space to determine the effect of weightlessness on fish development and locomotion.
Additional Topics
The earliest fossils of the order Cyprinodontiformes (meaning toothed carp) were found in Europe and date from the early Oligocene (26-37 mya). The most likely ancestor of this order is traced to fossils from the Tethys Sea in the Early Cretaceous (65-136 mya) time period. More recent Miocene (12-26 mya) fossils have been located in Kenya. Over time, the number of species diversified as the contin…
Characteristic of euryhaline and freshwater habitats, extremes of temperatures, variations in dissolved oxygen and high degree of habitat disturbance are the main parameters shaping the lives of killifishes. The ability to move from fresh to saltwater requires tremendous osmoregulation adjustments. The sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) is found in marsh ponds from Maine to the West Indies,…
In general, female killifish are larger than the males (ranging from 50-155 mm, 2-6 in), although less brightly colored. As the days lengthen and temperatures rise during the spring/summer reproductive season, hormones cause bright colors to appear on males. These aggressive males fight with each other for the privilege of fertilizing a female, preferably a large one capable of laying up to 50,000…
Many species of Fundulus have been used extensively as bait fish, but perhaps their best known use is in the laboratory. Beginning in the 1800s, the mummichog (F. heteroclitus) was used to study fish embryology. The transparent eggs were stripped of their protective covering, opening a window on the developmental process and allowing easy manipulation with a variety of chemicals to assess endocrin…
Maintaining species diversity in the nearshore, intertidal, and freshwater systems inhabited by the many kinds of killifish has become increasingly important as the twentieth century draws to a close. Because of their incredible ability to withstand a wide range of temperatures, salinities, and pollutants, especially organochloride pesticides and fertilizers, killifish seem to be among the most pe…
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about 1 year ago
taxonomy in relation to ecology and embryology