Killifish ID

Fundulus kansae

Description: A small, silvery fish having a terminal, upturned mouth with a protruding lower jaw, rounded tail, series of vertical bars on each side, and single dorsal fin with base almost directly above anal fin base with third anal fin ray not branched. Primarily feeds just beneath the surface of the water on insects and other invertebrates, but also eats diatoms and other plant material. It is an important biological control for mosquitoes (particularly their larval aquatic stages).

Family: Killifish
Type: Baitfish
Range: Primarily Platte and Republican River systems.

Fundulus sciadicus

Description: Small, olive-brown fish having a terminal, upturned mouth with a protruding lower jaw, rounded tail, single dorsal fin with base almost directly above anal fin base with third anal fin ray not branched, and no bars on side. Primarily feeds just beneath the surface of the water on insects (aquatic and terrestrial). It is an important biological control for mosquitoes (particularly their larval aquatic stages), but often replaced by the no more effective, more aggressive, non-native mosquitofish.

Family: Killifish
Type: Non-Game Fish
Range: Primarily Platte and Loup River systems.