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Killifish
A killifish is any of various oviparous (egg-laying) cyprinodontiform fish, including families Aplocheilidae, Pantanodontidae, Cyprinodontidae, Fundulidae, Nothobranchiidae, Profundulidae, Aphaniidae and Valenciidae. All together, there are 1,270 species of killifish, the biggest family being Rivulidae, containing more than 320 species. As an adaptation to living in ephemeral waters, the eggs of most killifish can survive periods of partial dehydration. Many of the species rely on such a diapause, since the eggs would not survive more than a few weeks if entirely submerged in water. The adults of some species, such as ''Kryptolebias marmoratus'', can additionally survive out of the water for several weeks. Most killifish are small, measuring from , with the largest species growing to just under . The word ''killifish'' is of uncertain origin, but is likely to have come from the Dutch ''kil'' for a kill (small stream). Although killifish is sometimes used as an English eq ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nothobranchius Rachovii Male
''Nothobranchius'' is a genus of small, freshwater killifish, classified in the family Nothobranchiidaevan der Laan, R., Eschmeyer, W.N. & Fricke, R. (2014)Family-group names of Recent fishes.''Zootaxa, 3882 (2): 1–230.'' in the order Cyprinodontiformes. There are about a hundred species in the genus, many with very small distributions. They are primarily native to East Africa from Sudan to northern South Africa, whereas a dozen species are found in the upper Congo River Basin; the greatest species richness is in Tanzania. ''Nothobranchius'' typically inhabit ephemeral pools that are filled only during the monsoon season, and show extreme life-history adaptations to survive the dry season. When their habitats dry up, the adult fish die and the eggs survive encased in the clay during the dry season. The embryos survive the dry season by entering diapause, facilitated by their specialized eggs that have a very hard chorion and are resistant to desiccation and hypoxia.Alexander Do ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyprinodontiform
Cyprinodontiformes is an order of ray-finned fish, comprising mostly small, freshwater fish. Many popular aquarium fish, such as killifish and live-bearers, are included. They are closely related to the Atheriniformes and are occasionally included with them. A colloquial term for the order as a whole is toothcarps, though they are not actually close relatives of the true carps – the latter belong to the superorder Ostariophysi, while the toothcarps are Acanthopterygii. The families of Cyprinodontiformes can be informally divided into three groups based on reproductive strategy: viviparous and ovoviviparous (all species give live birth), and oviparous (all species are egg-laying). The live-bearing groups differ in whether the young are carried to term within (ovoviviparous) or without (viviparous) an enclosing eggshell. Phylogenetically however, one of the two suborders – the Aplocheiloidei – contains oviparous species exclusively, as do two of the four sup ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Aphaniidae
Aphaniidae, the Oriental killifishes, are a family of the order Cyprinodontiformes. The 42 extant species of the family inhabit inland waters, rivers and lagoons. The distribution of these species extends from the entire Mediterranean region throughout the neighboring states of the Red Sea and Persian Gulf to southwest India. Several species in this family have very small distributions and are seriously threatened. Characteristics Aphaniidae are small fishes that usually grow to a length of . Their bodies are moderately elongated and only slightly flattened at the sides. The mouth is short and their teeth are tricuspid. Scales are complete, but can also be reduced or completely absent. All fins are rounded, dorsal and anal fins similar and are almost symmetrical, the pelvic fins can also be very small. There is usually sexual dimorphism and females are usually larger and have dots or spots on a solid colored background. The males often have horizontal stripes. There can also b ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Kryptolebias Marmoratus
The mangrove rivulus or mangrove killifish, ''Kryptolebias marmoratus'' ( syn. ''Rivulus marmoratus''), is a species of killifish in the family Rivulidae. It lives in brackish and marine waters (less frequently in fresh water) along the coasts of Florida, through the Antilles, and along the eastern and northern Atlantic coasts of Mexico, Central America and South America (south to Brazil). It has a very wide tolerance of both salinity (0–68 ‰)Bester, CMangrove Rivulus.Florida Museum. Retrieved 6 May 2017. and temperature (),Hill, K Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce. Retrieved 6 May 2017. can survive for about two months on land, and mostly breeds by self-fertilization. It is typically found in areas with red mangrove and sometimes lives in burrows of '' Cardisoma guanhumi'' crabs. The mangrove rivulus is up to long, but most individuals are . Overall the mangrove rivulus is widespread and not threatened, but in the United States it is considered a Species of Co ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Rivulidae
The Rivulidae are a family (biology), family of killifishes in the order (biology), order Cyprinodontiformes. They are commonly known as rivulids, South American killifish or New World killifish. The latter names are slightly misleading, however, as they are neither restricted to South America, though most are in fact found there, nor are they the only killifishes from the Americas. Occasionally, they are still referred to as rivulines, a term dating back to when they were considered a subfamily of the Aplocheilidae. The subfamilial name "Rivulinae" was already established for noctuid moths by Augustus Radcliffe Grote in 1895. That name, though it is the senior homonym, may be suppressed because the name Rivulinae for the fish subfamily is widespread, whereas the moth taxon is little used. The use of Rivulidae as the name for this family may need to be ruled in by the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature. The alternative family-group name Cynolebiidae Hoedeman 1961 ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Vernal Pool
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a distinctive type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species unable to withstand competition or predation by fish. Certain tropical fish lineages (such as killifishes) have however adapted to this habitat specifically. Vernal pools are a type of wetland. They can be surrounded by many communities/species including deciduous forest, grassland, lodgepole pine forest, blue oak woodland, sagebrush steppe, succulent coastal scrub and prairie. These pools are characteristic of Mediterranean climates, but occur in many other ecosystems. Generation and annual development During most years, a vernal pool basin will experience inundation from rain/precipitation, followed by desiccation from evapotranspiration. These conditions are commonly associated w ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Pantanodontidae
Pantanodontidae, the spine killifishes, is a family of killifish in the suborder Cyprinodontoidei. It is the most basal member of the suborder, being the sister to all other members of the clade. It contains about 13 species in 4 genera which are native to freshwater and estuarine habitats of East Africa, including at least formerly Madagascar. In addition, several fossil members of this group are known to have inhabited Europe. Many species have extremely small ranges and some are likely extinct. The following genera are known: * '' Aliteranodon'' Meinema & Huber, 2023 * '' Eremodon'' Huber & Meinema, 2024 * †'' Malagodon'' Meinema & Huber, 2023 (extinct ca. 1990s) * '' Pantanodon'' G. S. Myers, 1955 The fossil genus †'' Paralebias'' Gaudant, 2013 is known from the Late Oligocene and Early Miocene of Europe. It is sometimes synonymized with '' Pantanodon'', although this was done prior to the splitting up of the genus. ''Paralebias'' itself may be polyphyletic A pol ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Cyprinodontidae
Pupfish are a group of small killifish belonging to ten genus, genera of the family Cyprinodontidae of ray-finned fish. Pupfish are especially noted for being found in extreme and isolated situations. They are primarily found in North America, South America, and the Caribbean region. As of August 2006, 120 nominal species and 9 subspecies were known. Several pupfish species are extinct and most extant species are listed. In the U.S., the most well-known pupfish species may be the Devils Hole pupfish, native to Devils Hole on the Nevada side of Death Valley National Park. Since 1995 the Devils Hole pupfish has been in a nearly steady decline, where it was close to extinction at 35–68 fish in 2013. The common name is said to derive from the mating habits of the males, whose activities vaguely resemble puppies at play; Carl Leavitt Hubbs, Carl L. Hubbs, a prominent ichthyology, ichthyologist and one of the first people to take an interest in them, coined the name after he observe ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Fundulidae
Fundulidae is the family of topminnows and North American killifishes. Distribution The 46 species are native to North America as far south as Yucatan, and to the islands of Bermuda and Cuba, occurring in both freshwater and marine environments. Description Most members of the family are small. While the giant killifish (''Fundulus grandissimus'') and northern studfish (''Fundulus catenatus'') can reach in length, most species are under 10 cm in length. The distinguishing characteristic of the family is the maxillary bone, which is twisted instead of being straight. While many species of the Fundulidae are listed as not threatened, there are some that are listed as endangered because of their environment. Many common species of the Fundulidae live in North America such as the United States and Mexico. They live in different ecosystem such as costal marshes, lagoons, rivers, streams with high elevations with clear water, and muddy conditions at lower elevation. They are ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Valenciidae
''Valencia'' is the monotypic taxon, only genus in the family Valenciidae. ''Valencia'' is a genus of Actinopterygii, ray-finned fishes. It was formerly grouped into the family Cyprinodontidae, but more recent studies support it being its own family most closely related to the Aphaniidae. Members of this genus are restricted to southern Europe. Taxonomy There are currently three recognized species in ''Valencia'': * ''Valencia hispanica'' (Achille Valenciennes, Valenciennes, 1846) (Valencia toothcarp) * ''Valencia letourneuxi'' (Henri Émile Sauvage, Sauvage, 1880) (Corfu toothcarp) * ''Valencia robertae'' Jörg Freyhof, Freyhof, Heiko Kärst, Kärst & Matthias F. Geiger, Geiger, 2014Freyhof, J., Kärst, H. & Geiger, M. (2014)''Valencia robertae'', a new killifish from southern Greece (Cyprinodontiformes: Valenciidae). ''Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters, 24 (4) [2013]: 289-298.'' The Valenciidae were formerly a much more diverse lineage in prehistoric times (Paleogene ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Diapause
In animal dormancy, diapause is the delay in development in response to regular and recurring periods of adverse environmental conditions.Tauber, M.J., Tauber, C.A., Masaki, S. (1986) ''Seasonal Adaptations of Insects''. Oxford University Press It is a physiological state with very specific initiating and inhibiting conditions. The mechanism is a means of surviving predictable, unfavorable environmental conditions, such as temperature extremes, drought, or reduced food availability. Diapause is observed in all the life stages of arthropods, especially insects. Activity levels of diapausing stages can vary considerably among species. Diapause may occur in a completely immobile stage, such as the pupae and eggs, or it may occur in very active stages that undergo extensive migrations, such as the adult monarch butterfly, ''Danaus plexippus''. In cases where the insect remains active, feeding is reduced and reproductive development is slowed or halted. Embryonic diapause, a somewhat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Nothobranchiidae
Nothobranchiidae are a Family (biology), family of Osteichthyes, bony fishes containing roughly 300 species, also known as African rivulines. They are small killifish, usually measuring about . They are limited to Africa, living in fresh water but being also somewhat salt-tolerant. They are also found in muddy or brackish water. Some species are kept as aquarium pets. They have frilly fins and many are brightly colored. They were formerly included in the family Aplocheilidae (which was later limited to Madagascar, Malagasy, Seychelles, Seychellean and Asian species); a return to that broader family has recently been suggested. Members of genus ''Nothobranchius'' are found in mud pools on the plains of Africa, a habitat shared by no other fish except the lungfishes. Their life cycle is only a year long, and they die when the pools dry up, however the species survives because their eggs remain inactive (in diapause) in the dry bottom Substrate (biology), substrate throughout the dr ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
