Lucania parva
(Baird and Girard 1855)
Family Fundulidae

Lateral view of rainwater killifish
The photo above shows a male, top, and female, bottom, rainwater killifish. These fish are now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection. Top: UF 238088 Bottom: 187785 Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The rainwater killifish is a member of the topminnow family. The scales on the back and side of the body are larger and typically dark-edged, creating a diamond-like appearance. Large males have a black spot at the front of the dusky orange dorsal fin, and a thin black fin edge on all fins but the pectoral. The rainwater killifish is a marine species that primarily inhabits shallow water along the coast but can also be found well inland. This species is usually found over sand or mud in vegetated areas.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Marine invader
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central drainages, the Gulf Coast, South Florida and the Atlantic Coast
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