FAMILY CYPRINODONTIDAE 195 



Figure 33. Western banded killifish, Fundulus diaphantis menona, 

 2 inches long. 



The fins are not much marked except in breeding males, which have the 

 dorsal fin strongly marked with a longitudinal stripe. The head is con- 

 tained 4 times in the length, the depth 4.8 times. The eye is contained 

 3.5 times in the head. The dorsal fin has 13 rays and is inserted far back. 

 The first rays of the dorsal fin are before the first rays of the anal or over 

 them. The anal fin has 11 rays. The scales are cycloid and number 43-45. 

 This species reaches a length of 4 inches. 



This little fish is fond of muddy brooks and ponds where there is 

 aquatic vegetation. It is fairly common in the shallow waters of Min- 

 nesota lakes. Numerous specimens have been reported from the various 

 streams and lakes in the vicinity of Mankato, from the St. Croix River, 

 and from the streams and lakes of the Upper Mississippi and Minnesota 

 rivers (Cox, 1897) . There are specimens in the University of Minne- 

 sota collections from all parts of Minnesota except the northeastern 

 portion. This species has been reported from a number of localities in 

 Wisconsin (Greene, 1935) but is common only in the southeastern 

 portion. 



This fish feeds on small Crustacea, insects, algae, and the seeds of 

 aquatic plants. Ripe females containing large eggs are found in mid- 

 summer, indicating a late spawning date. It is a poor bait fish, for it will 

 not stand handling and confinement in a minnow pail. 



NORTHERN STARHEAD TOPMINNOW 



Fundulus disyar dispar (Agassiz) 



The northern starhead minnow is a small fish reaching a length of 

 about 2 1/2 inches. The body is rather deep and compressed. The males 

 are bluish olive and are marked with vertical bars. The females are 

 marked with about 10 horizontal streaks. There is a black blotch below 

 the eye. The dorsal fin has 7 rays, the anal fin 9. There are about 35 

 scales in the lateral line. 



This minnow ranges from Iowa to southern Michigan and southward 

 to Arkansas and Tennessee. It has never been found in Minnesota 



