306 Rain-Water Fish, Lucys Killifish 



Rain-Water Fish 

 Lucania parva (Baird and Girard) 



Color: Dark olive above; sides paler. In male, front edge 

 of dorsal fin is black or has a black spot at the base; pelvic 

 and anal fins orange-red in the male during the breeding 

 season. 



Distribution: Cape Cod to Key West. 

 Size: Maximum length about IVi inches. 

 General Information: Commonly found in small schools 

 throughout its range in brackish-water bays, ponds, and 

 creeks containing abundant vegetation. It spawns from 

 April to July. The maximum number of eggs produced by 

 a single female has been reported to be 104. The Rain- 

 Water Fish feeds on small shrimp-like animals and prob- 

 ably on any other small aquatic animal. 

 Economic Importance: A source of food for larger fishes 

 in some areas. Like the sheepshead minnow, the Rain- 

 Water Fish is readily kept in brackish-water aquaria. 



Lucy's Killifish 

 Fundulus luciae (Baird) 



Color: Adult female: gray-green, paler below. Adult male: 

 olive green above; belly orange-white; sides with 11-14 

 dark olive-green bars; a black spot on the rear portion of 

 the dorsal fin. Young of both sexes resemble the female. 



