Sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus)

Scientific name: Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus Lacep?de, 1803

The Sheepshead minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinodontidae.

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.

Source: FishBase, licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Scientific name: Cyprinodon variegatus variegatus
Family: Cyprinodontidae (Pupfishes)
Order: Cyprinodontiformes (Live bearers, Killifishes and Rivulines)
Class: Actinopterygii (Ray-finned fishes)
Maximum length: 9.0
Common length: 3.0
Environment: Marine; freshwater; brackish; benthopelagic; non-migratory
Climate: Subtropical
Distribution: North and South America: Massachusetts, USA to northeastern Mexico; also West Indies; northern coast of South America. Bahamas, Antilles, Gulf of Mexico, Yucatan and Venezuela.
Conservation status (IUCN): Not Evaluated
Threat to humans: Harmless
Uses: Aquarium: commercial; bait: usually
Resilience: Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Assuming tm

Taxonomy, distribution and biology data: FishBase (Froese, R. and D. Pauly, eds.), licensed CC BY-NC 4.0.

Last updated 27 September 2026