Common Killfish (cont.) 303 



dorsal and caudal fins. Sides with 15 narrow, silvery, 

 vertical bars and numerous blue-white and yellowish spots. 

 A black spot on the rear part of the dorsal fin in both 

 sexes. Young of both sexes have a varying number of 

 dark bars on sides. 



Distribution: Labrador to Mexico. Three races are recog- 

 nized. The northern race extends commonly from Labrador 

 to Virginia. 



Size: Reaches a length of about 5 inches. Females grow 

 to a larger size than the males. 



General Information: The Common Killifish is one of the 

 most common small fishes in shallow coastal waters. It is 

 most often found in schools in weedy, muddy places in 

 marshes, bays, and mouths of rivers. This species prefers 

 brackish water but also occurs in fresh and salt water. It 

 is a very hardy fish with a remarkable ability to survive 

 marked changes in temperature and salinity, to live in 

 highly polluted waters, and to live out of water for a con- 

 siderable time. Spawning occurs from April to August in 

 shallows containing heavy vegetation. The young grow 

 rapidly and reach maturity by the following year. During 

 the winter this fish will bury itself in the mud. It is a 

 voracious feeder and eats almost any small plant or animal 

 form. 



Economic Importance: The Common Killifish is an impor- 

 tant source of food for other fishes. An extensive bait 

 fishery for it has been developed in the New York-New 

 Jersey region for use in the sport fisheries for summer 

 flounder (fluke) and young bluefish (snappers). 



Because of its hardiness and ready availability it has 

 become an important laboratory animal for scientific in- 

 vestigations. 



