Scientific Name
Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus

Common Name
Sheepshead minnow

Biology
A short, deep-bodied, compressed fish. Scales large, dorsal profile straight from tip of snout to front of dorsal fin; dark marginal band on tail (Ref. 26938).

Classification

Classified By

Lacep?de, 1803

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Live bearers, Killifishes and Rivulines (Cyprinodontiformes)

Family

Pupfishes (Cyprinodontidae)

Distribution

Region

North and South America

Distribution

North and South America: Massachusetts, USA to northeastern Mexico; also West Indies; northern coast of South America (Ref. 5217). Bahamas, Antilles, Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan and Venezuela (Ref. 26938).

Range

43°N - 8°N

Environment

Climate

Subtropical

Water Temperature From

Unknown °C

Water Temperature To

- 42 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

benthopelagic

Environment

Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; non-migratory

Trophic Level

2.9 s.e. 0.32 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

True

Occurs in Brackish water

True

Occurs in Fresh Water

True

Occurs on Reefs

False

Is kept in Aquariums

True

Physical Size and Genetics

Maximum Length

9.0 cm

Common Length

3.0 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 0.5000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial; bait: usually

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (40 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated