Family CYPRINODONTIDAE

Cyprinodontidae

© Copyright Ros Poole.

Museums

Regional Maps

External Links

Introduction

The family Cyprinodontidae is native to the Americas and northern Africa (Nelson 1994). Species are commonly found in fresh waters, but many tolerate a wide range of salinities with some species common in coastal marine environments. About nine genera and 100 species are known. Only a single species has been found in the wild in Australia (Webb 2007), but others are likely to be found because of their popularity in the aquarium trade. Cyprinodontids have external fertilisation. They are generally small in size, usually less than 10 cm.

Parenti (1981) discussed relationships.

General References

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp.

Parenti, L.R. 1981. A phylogenetic and biogeographic analysis of cyprinodontiform fishes (Teleostei, Atherinomorpha). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 168(4): 335-557

Webb, A.C. 2007. Status of non-native freshwater fishes in tropical northern Queensland, including establishment success, rates of spread, range and introduction pathways. Journal and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New South Wales 140: 63–78

Common Name References

Nelson, J.S. 1994. Fishes of the World. New York : John Wiley & Sons 600 pp. [277] (Pupfishes)

History of changes