164 



FISHERY BULLETIN OF THE FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE 



depending on temperature. The larva is about 7 to 

 7.7 mm. long at hatching, its yolk absorbed al- 

 ready, and its pectoral and caudal fins fully formed. 

 By the time the little fish has grown to 11 mm. the 

 dorsal and anal fin rays are present in full number, 

 and the first trace of the ventrals is to be seen. At 

 16 mm. the ventrals are apparent, and fry of 20 

 mm. resemble their parents. 



General range. — Coast of North America, from 

 the Gulf of St. Lawrence to Texas. Port au Port 

 Bay, on the west coast of Newfoundland, 96 is the 

 most northerly record that we have found for it. 



Occurrence in the Gulf of Maine . — The ' ' mummie ' ' 

 is one of the few fish which can fairly be charac- 

 terized as "universal" in suitable locations around 

 the entire coastline of the Gulf. We dare say 

 that there is not a single bit of salt marsh, muddy 

 creek, harbor, sheltered shore line, or brackisn 

 estuary, where they are not to be found, from the 

 elbow of Cape Cod around to Cape Sable. 



" Johansen (Canadian Naturalist, vol. 40, February 1926, p. 34). 



Importance. — The mummichog is of some com- 

 mercial value as bait, but only locally. It is 

 also a favorite for biological experiment. 



Striped mummichog Fundulus majalis (Wal- 



baum) 1792 



Mummichog; Mummy; Killifish 



Jordan and Evermann, 1896-1900, p. 637. 



Description. — This fish resembles the common 

 mummichog closely in general form, in the shape 

 of its dorsal and arjal fins, in its sexual dimorphism, 

 and in the development of "contact organs" on the 

 scales of breeding males. But it is more slender, 

 its snout more pointed, its body more definitely 

 fusiform, tapering toward both head and tail, 

 and its caudal peduncle not so stout. But the 

 color pattern is the most striking difference 

 between the two, both sexes of Fundulus majalis 

 being definitely barred with black at maturity 

 as well as when young. In the male the barring 

 is transverse throughout life, the stripes increasing 



Figure 77. — Striped mummichog (Fundulus majalis). Upper, male, Woods Hole; lower, female, Maryland. 



Jordan and Evermann. 



From 



