Genus: Fundulus, Killifishes, Topminnow Killifish, Topminnows

FUNDULUS

TOPMINNOWS, KILLIFISHES

Body elongate to robust; depth < 1/3 SL, compressed at rear; head flattened above, with straight to concave upper profile; front nostril not tubular; cover of eye not continuous with head skin; mouth small, opens at front, oblique, protrusible, lower jaw projecting; top jaw twisted, not straight; lower jaw with 3-10 pores; jaws with multi-serial teeth, outer series conical; 4-14 gill rakers; no spines in fins; dorsal fin short based, at about midbody, variable in position relative to anal fin; anal fin with 3rd fin ray branched; tail fin rounded; pectoral with narrow base, rounded, inserted low on side; pelvics inserted well behind pectoral base; small (> 30 along midside) smooth scales; lateral line reduced to a series of pits along side of body.

A North American genus with ~ 37 species; with 15 species entering brackish waters in our area.

A North American genus with ~ 37 species; with 14 species entering brackish waters in our area.