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Northern Plains Killifish - Fundulus kansae
General Description
The plains killifish has probably been introduced into Montana's eastern drainage. This fish has an unusual appearance for a Montana fish because it bears vertical stripes. It typically inhabits small, low-gradient streams and spawns in the spring by broadcasting its eggs. The plains killifish eats primarily insects and other invertebrates that are taken largely from the surface of the water by its mouth, which is located near the top of its head. Hence, the common name of topminnow. The largest size of this killifish is about 6 inches.
Diagnostic Characteristics
Olive brown on back, fading to pale yellow or white below. Side has 12 to 28 dark vertical bars (bars, on female are narrower and more numerous, as in illustration). Head broad and flat, lateral line absent.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Non-native
Western Hemisphere Range
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 316
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Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Found in small clear water creeks where substrate is mostly of a silt-clay type. Alkalinity and salinity may be a factor in stream selection.
Food Habits
Feed effectively at all levels and food habits are generalized. Prefer aquatic insects but also feed on plants.
Ecology
Spend most of their in loosely organized schools. Has now been found in 19 streams in the Yellowstone Basin.
Reproductive Characteristics
Spawns April-August when water temperatures reach 80 degrees F. Mate after brief courtship. Sexually mature at 2 years.
Stewardship Responsibility
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lee, D.S., C.R. Gilbert, C.H. Hocutt, R.E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Musuem of Natural History. 867 p.
- Scott, W.B. and E.J. Crossman. 1973. Rainbow trout, Kamloops trout, Steelhead trout Salmo gairdneri Richardson. pp. 184-191. In: Freshwater fishes of Canada. Ottawa, Canada: Fisheries Research Board of Canada, Bulletin 184. 966 p.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?- Duncan, M.B. 2019. Distributions, abundances, and movements of small, nongame fishes in a large Great Plains river network. Ph.D. Dissertation. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 255 p.
- Joslin, Gayle, and Heidi B. Youmans. 1999. Effects of recreation on Rocky Mountain wildlife: a review for Montana. [Montana]: Montana Chapter of the Wildlife Society.
Mullen, J.A. 2007. Spatiotemporal variation of fish assemblages in Montana prairie streams. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 102 p.- Mullins, M.S. 1991. Biology and predator use of cisco (Coregonus artedi) in Fort Peck Reservoir, Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 68 p.
- Rosenthal, L.R. 2007. Evaluation of distribution and fish passage in relation to road culverts in two eastern Montana prairie streams. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 78 p.
- Stringer, A.L. 2018. Status of Northern Pearl Dace and chrosomid dace in prairie streams of Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 150 p.
- Wuellner, M.R. 2007. Influence of reach and watershed characteristics on fish distributions in small streams of eastern Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 80 p.
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