Pygmy Killifish

Leptolucania ommata

Fundulidae · freshwater water fish

2 minute read · Species guide

Pygmy Killifish field guide illustration

About Pygmy Killifish

Leptolucania ommata, the Pygmy killifish, is a species of North American killifish found only in the southeastern United States. This fish is also found in the aquarium trade. This species grows to a length of 3 centimetres (1.2 in) TL. They are yellow with gold and blue-green towards the tail. While males have a small dark spot at the base of their tail, females tend to have one at the base of their tail, and one at the midpoint of their body. It is the only known member of its genus. The pygmy killifish was formally described by David Starr Jordan as Heterandria ommata in 1884, the type locality being given as Indian River, Florida.

Diet and feeding

The FishTraits compilation records these diet categories for this species: invertebrates or larval fish. These are broad categories, not a claim that every individual consumes every example in a category.

Habitat preferences

Reported habitat associations include streams and small rivers, creeks.

The source records associations with muck, clay or silt, vegetation. An association indicates reported use, rather than an exclusive requirement.

Reproduction and parental care

The compilation reports a representative maturity age of 0.8 years. Its maturity field summarizes mean, median, or modal estimates, usually for females; male estimates can be used when female data are unavailable. It is not a fixed age at which every fish first breeds.

Recorded spawning months are Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep for the source’s reporting region (AL). This is a regional calendar, not a range-wide schedule.

Size and recorded longevity

FishTraits reports a maximum total length of 2.7 centimetres. Some entries use an estimated asymptotic length; this value should not be treated as a certified record catch.

Recorded longevity in the compilation is 2 years. Wild observations were preferred, but captive records were accepted where wild records were unavailable, and unspecified records were assumed wild. The value is not a guaranteed wild lifespan or an aquarium life expectancy.

Range

Where it lives

Share of 632 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 5 states.
0%
84.5%
Share of 632 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 5 states.

Habitat

Water and movement

Water
WoRMS records this species in fresh water.
Migration
Not migratory

Classification

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Superclass
Actinopterygii
Class
Teleostei
Order
Cyprinodontiformes
Genus
Leptolucania
Species
Leptolucania ommata
ITIS TSN
165696
WoRMS AphiaID
1019841
GBIF key
2349560

Common questions about Pygmy Killifish

What is the scientific name of Pygmy Killifish?
The scientific name is Leptolucania ommata, in the family Fundulidae. Classification follows ITIS.
Does Pygmy Killifish live in fresh water or salt water?
WoRMS records this species in fresh water.
Where has Pygmy Killifish been recorded in the United States?
GBIF has observations in 5 states, with the most records in Florida, Georgia, Alabama. The map shows observation records, which do not establish the complete natural range.

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All 32 species in Fundulidae