Scientific Name
Belonesox belizanus

Common Name
Top minnow

Biology
Slender, elongate fish with elongate jaws forming a prominent pointed beak. Scales very small and numerous (Ref. 26938).

Classification

Classified By

Kner, 1860

Class

Ray-finned fishes (Actinopterygii)

Order

Live bearers, Killifishes and Rivulines (Cyprinodontiformes)

Family

Poeciliids (Poeciliidae)

Distribution

Region

North and Central America

Distribution

North and Central America: Laguna San Julian, northeast of Ciudad Veracruz in Mexico to Costa Rica. Southern Gulf of Mexico, southern Yucatan and along Central American coast south to Nicaragua (Ref. 26938). Introduced in freshwater in Florida (Ref. 26938).

Range

29°N - 11°N, 100°W - 79°W

Environment

Climate

Tropical

Water Temperature From

25 °C

Water Temperature To

37 °C

Depth From - meters

Unknown m

Depth To - meters

Unknown m

Zone

demersal

Environment

Freshwater; brackish; ; pH range: 6.0 - 8.0; dH range: 9 - 19 demersal; non-migratory

Trophic Level

2.9 s.e. 0.35 Based on size and trophs of closest relatives

Occurs in Marine / Salt water

False

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

20.0 cm

Common Length

9.7 cm

Phylogenetic Diversity Index

PD50 = 1.0000 many relatives (e.g. carps) 0.5 - 2.0 few relatives (e.g. lungfishes)

Human Uses and Population

Human Uses

Aquarium: commercial

Vulnerability

Moderate vulnerability (35 of 100)

Resilience

Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Fec=100)

Threat To Humans

Harmless

IUCN Red List Status

Not Evaluated