Mummichog

Mummichog
Mummichog
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Fundulidae
Genus: Fundulus
Species: F. heteroclitus
Binomial name
Fundulus heteroclitus
(Linnaeus, 1766)

The mummichog is a killifish also known as mummies, gudgeons, and mud minnows are found in brackish and coastal waters along the eastern seaboard of the United States as well as Atlantic Canada. It is noted for its hardiness and for being a popular research subject in embryological, physiological, and toxicological studies. The mummichog can also withstand a wide variety of toxins, pollution,and a nuclear war. This is an extremely tolerant species that can survive at very low oxygen levels and in heavily polluted ecosystems. It can also withstand temperatures as warm as 34oC (93°F) and temperature fluctuations from 6oC to 35oC (43°F to 95oC)




Subspecies are:

  • Fundulus heteroclitus heteroclitus (Linnaeus, 1766)
  • Fundulus heteroclitus macrolepidotus Walbaum, 1792

Contents

Biology

Mummichogs are typically found in muddy marshes, channels, and grass flats along coastal areas. They travel in schools that may contain hundreds of individuals. Indeed, the name mummichog is derived from a Native American term which means "going in crowds".

The mummichog spawns on new and full moons in the spring and summer. Its eggs are laid near the high tide mark in empty mollusk shells or on dead vegetation and can tolerate long-term exposure to air. Typically mummichogs reach sexual maturity during their second year and live for a total of three years. [1]

Because of the extreme hardiness of the species, it is sometimes the only species found in severely polluted and oxygen-deprived streams, such as the Elizabeth River in Virginia, and the Hackensack River and the Arthur Kill in New Jersey during the height of the water pollution problem in the United States.

Interest to humans

  • Mummichog eggs are used in teaching embryology, because it is possible to see the eyes and the beating heart and follow the different stages of ontogenesis.
  • Mummichogs are a common fish species used in toxicology studies.
  • Mummichogs are used to stock otherwise fishless ponds that breed mosquitos, and within three days the ponds are normally mosquito free.
  • In 1973 the mummichog became the first fish in space when carried on Skylab 3 as part of the biological experiments package. Later space missions by the U.S., such as Bion 3, have also carried mummichog.
  • Mummichogs are often caught in seines and minnow traps to be sold as live bait for fishermen.

Gallery

  • Fundulus heteroclitus taken in the Chesapeake Bay, USA

  • Female from Wood's Hole, Massachusetts

Notes

  1. ^ Murdy, Birdsong, Musick: Fishes of Chesapeake Bay (Smithsonian Institution Press, 1997), 128

External links


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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Mummichog — Mum mi*chog, n. [Amer. Indian name.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any one of several species of small American cyprinodont fishes of the genus {Fundulus}, and of allied genera; the killifishes; called also {minnow}. [Written also {mummychog}, {mummachog}.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mummichog — Minnow Min now, n. [OE. menow, cf. AS. myne; also OE. menuse, OF. menuise small fish; akin to E. minish, minute.] [Written also {minow}.] [1913 Webster] 1. (Zo[ o]l.) A small European fresh water cyprinoid fish ({Phoxinus l[ae]vis}, formerly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • mummichog — paprastasis fundulas statusas T sritis zoologija | vardynas taksono rangas rūšis atitikmenys: lot. Fundulus heteroclitus angl. common killifish; mummy; mummichog rus. обыкновенный фундулюс ryšiai: platesnis terminas – paprastieji fundulai …   Žuvų pavadinimų žodynas

  • mummichog — noun Etymology: Narragansett moamitteaúg Date: 1787 a common killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus of the family Cyprinodontidae) of eastern North America …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • mummichog — /mum i chog /, n. Coastal New England. a silver and black killifish, Fundulus heteroclitus, found in fresh, brackish, and salt water along the Atlantic coast of the U.S. [1780 90, Amer.; < Narragansett (E sp.) moamitteaug] * * * …   Universalium

  • mummichog — noun A hardy killifish found in brackish and coastal waters of the United States and Canada …   Wiktionary

  • mummichog — n. type of fish native of saltwater marshes along the North American Atlantic coast (also known as silver and black killifish) …   English contemporary dictionary

  • mummichog — [ mʌmɪtʃɒg] noun a small marine fish of sheltered shores and estuaries of eastern North America, popular in aquaria and also used as bait. [Fundulus heteroclitus.] Origin C18: from Narragansett moamitteaug …   English new terms dictionary

  • mummichog — mum·mi·chog …   English syllables

  • mummichog — noun silver and black killifish of saltwater marshes along the Atlantic coast of the United States • Syn: ↑Fundulus heteroclitus • Hypernyms: ↑killifish • Member Holonyms: ↑Fundulus, ↑genus Fundulus …   Useful english dictionary

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