Waccamaw Killifish

Fundulus waccamensis

Fundulidae · freshwater water fish

2 minute read · Species guide

Waccamaw Killifish field guide illustration

About Waccamaw Killifish

The Waccamaw killifish (Fundulus waccamensis) is a species of fish in the family Fundulidae. It is endemic to Lake Waccamaw, a lake in North Carolina, United States, and its tributaries.

Distribution and habitat

Reliable reports of this species' occurrence are from only a single location, Lake Waccamaw and its tributaries, in Columbus County, North Carolina. While restricted in range, the fish is common there and total population may exceed 1 million. It is found in mid-level or near-surface waters over sandy bottoms in open waters or closer to vegetation around shores, and in winter may venture into surrounding swamps and canals. This species has been recorded in Lake Phelps in Washington County, North Carolina where it was most likely introduced by anglers using it as bait.

Conservation

While there are no known specific threats to the Waccamaw killifish, it is currently classified as vulnerable by the IUCN because of its restriction to a single location.

Article text: Wikipedia contributors, Waccamaw killifish (source revision). Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Retrieved 2026-10-11.

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.

Reported feeding positions include bottom feeding. The compilation combines published observations; diets can vary with age, locality, and available food.

Habitat preferences

Reported habitat associations include still-water habitats.

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

Reproduction and parental care

The compilation reports a representative maturity age of 1 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.

Batch or serial spawning has been reported somewhere in the species’ range. This does not establish the same spawning pattern for every population.

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

The reproductive-guild classification includes spawning on open substrates without guarding the brood.

Size and recorded longevity

FishTraits reports a maximum total length of 10 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 3 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 181 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 1 states.
0%
100%
Share of 181 GBIF observation records with a state location, across 1 states.

Share of records by state

Habitat

Water and movement

Water
WoRMS records this species in fresh water.
Migration
Undetermined

Classification

Taxonomy

Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Superclass
Actinopterygii
Class
Teleostei
Order
Cyprinodontiformes
Genus
Fundulus
Species
Fundulus waccamensis
ITIS TSN
165669
WoRMS AphiaID
1014366
GBIF key
5203678

Common questions about Waccamaw Killifish

What is the scientific name of Waccamaw Killifish?
The scientific name is Fundulus waccamensis, in the family Fundulidae. Classification follows ITIS.
Does Waccamaw Killifish live in fresh water or salt water?
WoRMS records this species in fresh water.
Where has Waccamaw Killifish been recorded in the United States?
GBIF has observations in 1 states, with the most records in North Carolina. The map shows observation records, which do not establish the complete natural range.

Closest relatives

Other Fundulus species

Banded Killifish31 states
Fundulus diaphanusFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Banded Topminnow5 states
Fundulus cingulatusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Barrens Topminnow1 states
Fundulus julisiaFundulidaeNativeFresh
Bayou Killifish6 states
Fundulus pulvereusFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Blackspotted Topminnow17 states
Fundulus olivaceusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Blackstripe Topminnow20 states
Fundulus notatusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Broadstripe Topminnow2 states
Fundulus euryzonusFundulidaeNativeFresh
California Killifish1 states
Fundulus parvipinnisFundulidaeNativeSaltBrackish
Golden Topminnow14 states
Fundulus chrysotusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Gulf Killifish11 states
Fundulus grandisFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Lined Topminnow8 states
Fundulus lineolatusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Longnose Killifish6 states
Fundulus similisFundulidaeNativeSalt
Marsh Killifish14 states
Fundulus confluentusFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Mummichog22 states
Fundulus heteroclitusFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Northern Starhead Topminnow16 states
Fundulus disparFundulidaeNativeFresh
Northern Studfish21 states
Fundulus catenatusFundulidaeNative and introducedFresh
Plains Killifish16 states
Fundulus zebrinusFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Plains Topminnow11 states
Fundulus sciadicusFundulidaeNative and introducedFresh
Russetfin Topminnow3 states
Fundulus escambiaeFundulidaeNativeFresh
Saltmarsh Topminnow5 states
Fundulus jenkinsiFundulidaeNativeSaltBrackish
Seminole Killifish4 states
Fundulus seminolisFundulidaeNativeFresh
Southern Starhead Topminnow7 states
Fundulus blairaeFundulidaeNativeFresh
Speckled Killifish2 states
Fundulus rathbuniFundulidaeNativeFresh
Spotfin Killifish12 states
Fundulus luciaeFundulidaeNativeSaltBrackish

Same family

More Fundulidae

Banded Killifish31 states
Fundulus diaphanusFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Banded Topminnow5 states
Fundulus cingulatusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Barrens Topminnow1 states
Fundulus julisiaFundulidaeNativeFresh
Bayou Killifish6 states
Fundulus pulvereusFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Blackspotted Topminnow17 states
Fundulus olivaceusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Blackstripe Topminnow20 states
Fundulus notatusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Blue-fintop Minnow7 states
Lucania goodeiFundulidaeNativeFresh
Broadstripe Topminnow2 states
Fundulus euryzonusFundulidaeNativeFresh
California Killifish1 states
Fundulus parvipinnisFundulidaeNativeSaltBrackish
Diamond Killifish5 states
Adinia xenicaFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Golden Topminnow14 states
Fundulus chrysotusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Gulf Killifish11 states
Fundulus grandisFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Lined Topminnow8 states
Fundulus lineolatusFundulidaeNativeFresh
Longnose Killifish6 states
Fundulus similisFundulidaeNativeSalt
Marsh Killifish14 states
Fundulus confluentusFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Mummichog22 states
Fundulus heteroclitusFundulidaeNativeFreshSaltBrackish
Northern Starhead Topminnow16 states
Fundulus disparFundulidaeNativeFresh
Northern Studfish21 states
Fundulus catenatusFundulidaeNative and introducedFresh
Plains Killifish16 states
Fundulus zebrinusFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshBrackish
Plains Topminnow11 states
Fundulus sciadicusFundulidaeNative and introducedFresh
Pygmy Killifish5 states
Leptolucania ommataFundulidaeNativeFresh
Rainwater Killifish20 states
Lucania parvaFundulidaeNative and introducedFreshSaltBrackish
Russetfin Topminnow3 states
Fundulus escambiaeFundulidaeNativeFresh
Saltmarsh Topminnow5 states
Fundulus jenkinsiFundulidaeNativeSaltBrackish

All 32 species in Fundulidae