Lucania parva (Baird & Girard, 1855)
Rainwater killifish
Lucania parva
photo by Terceira, A.C.

Family:  Fundulidae (Topminnows and killifishes)
Max. size:  6.2 cm TL (male/unsexed)
Environment:  pelagic-neritic; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 2 m, amphidromous
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Massachusetts and northern Gulf of Mexico to Florida Keys in USA and northeastern Mexico. Ascends Rio Grande and Pecos River in Texas and New Mexico in USA (Ref. 5723).
Diagnosis:  Dorsal soft rays (total): 11-12
Biology:  Inhabits vegetated quiet water and usually swims several inches below surface of water. 7 cm max TL (Ref. 5723). Feeds on larval crustaceans (mainly cyclopoid and harpacticoid copepods), mosquito larvae, small worms, and mollusks (Ref. 79012). Not a seasonal killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
IUCN Red List Status: Least Concern (LC); Date assessed: 09 January 2019 Ref. (130435)
Threat to humans:  harmless


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