Description
The blackspotted topminnow has an elongate body up to 9.7 centimeters long. It is brownish yellow to olive green on its upper side and has a wide, dark lateral band and distinct dark spots. The male has longer fins than the female and the fins of the male may take on a yellowish color during breeding. This species is very similar to the blackstripe topminnow (''Fundulus notatus''), which also has a dark lateral band. It can be distinguished from ''F. notatus'' by its darker, more numerous spots. The two mayDiet
The blackspotted topminnow eats various arthropods and algae.Habitat
This species occurs near the surface in quiet or flowing, relatively clear, sand-gravel bottom headwaters, creeks, and small rivers; often occurring along margins near thick stands of emergent vegetation.Reproduction and life cycle
Spawning season for the blackspotted topminnow stretches from March to early September, with peak spawning occurring in May.Blanchard, T. A. 1996. Ovarian cycles and microhabitat use in two species of topminnow, ''Fundulus olivaceus'' and ''F. euryzonus'', from the southeastern United States. Environmental Biology of Fishes. 47:155-163. On occasion, large males have been observed keeping an open territory of three square meters, Males seldom tolerate females in the wild, except during morning or evening spawning activities. In the aquarium, however, thus fish loses its wild traits, and becomes less aggressive. When spawning approaches, though, the males start to reveal their wild, aggressive traits. The males will approach each other head-on, and exhibit flaring opercula and gular areas-very similar to cichlid or betta behavior. They will then begin to slap and bite each other's flanks until one backs down. Ripe eggs are an average of 2.14 mm in diameter. The outer egg membrane has filaments that tend to be restricted to one area forming a tuft. The eggs hatch in 10–14 days and live for about 3 yearsDistribution
Range of the blackspotted topminnow includes the Gulf Slope, from Galveston Bay drainage, Texas, east to Choctawhatchee River system, Florida, and middle Chattahoochee River drainage, Georgia; Mississippi River basin from the Gulf to southeastern Kansas, central Missouri, southern Illinois, western Kentucky, and eastern Tennessee.Etymology
The scientific name of the blackspotted topminnow can be broken down in order to understand its meaning. The genus name ''Fundulus'', is from the Latin name ''Fundus'', meaning "bottom". The species name ''olivaceus'' means "olive-colored".Pflieger, W. L. 1975. The fishes of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, Jefferson City. 372 pp.References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q6422037 O Freshwater fish of the United States Endemic fauna of the United States Fish of the Eastern United States Fauna of the Plains-Midwest (United States) Fauna of the Southeastern United States Least concern biota of the United States Taxa named by David Humphreys Storer Fish described in 1845