Striped killifish

Taxobox
name = Striped killifish
status = secure


image_width = 250px
image_caption = Male specimen at the New England Aquarium


image2_width = 250px
image2_caption = Female specimen at the New England Aquarium
regnum = Animalia
phylum = Chordata
classis = Actinopterygii
ordo = Cyprinodontiformes
familia = Fundulidae
genus = "Fundulus"
species = "F. majalis"
binomial = "Fundulus majalis"
binomial_authority = (Walbaum, 1792)

The striped killifish ("Fundulus majalis"), also called the striped mummichog, is a North American species of saltwater killifish (occasionally also found in brackish water), dwelling in shallow coastal waters close to shore, and is found from New Hampshire to Florida.

It exhibits sexual dimorphism, with the males having vertical black stripes and the mature females having horizontal black stripes along the sides of their silver-colored bodies. Juvenile females have vertical stripes, however, and one or two vertical stripes remain at the end of the tail even on adult females. The striped killifish reaches lengths of 6 (or occasionally 7) inches.f>

References

* [http://www.gma.org/fogm/Fundulus_majalis.htm Striped mummichog] , "Gulf of Maine Research Institute".
* Phil Maier, [http://www.dnr.sc.gov/cwcs/pdf/stripedkillfish.pdf Striped Killifish] , "South Carolina Dept. of Natural Resources"
* [http://www.fishbase.org/Summary/SpeciesSummary.php?id=3196 Striped Killifish] , fishbase.org