Family Cyprinodontidae

Killifishes or Pupfishes

Selected Characters: Body deep; one dorsal fin and one anal fin; pelvics abdominal; lateral line absent.

The 100 members of this family are generally found in fresh or brackish water and sometimes in coastal marine environments. They are found in tropical and warm temperate waters; some species are kept as aquarium pets. These fishes are oviparous and have external fertilization. They are remarkably tolerant of extreme conditions, including very high salinity, very low oxygen concentrations, and temperatures from 0 to 45 degrees Celsius. The only species of this family which may stray into Puget Sound is the Sheepshead Minnow, which is rare here.

Puget Sound Species

Cyprinodon variegatus Sheepshead Minnow