Striped Killifish
Fundulus majalis
Image by Steven G. Johnson on Wikimedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
Physical: Striped Killifish are gray/silver and can sometimes have a brownish tint. Males have vertical black stripes, while females have long horizontal stripes along their bodies. They possess fourteen to fifteen dorsal spines, which are used to differentiate F. majalis from closely related species. Individuals reach an average of 5 to 7 inches in length at maturity.
Habitat: Striped Killifish range from New Hampshire to Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. Preferred habitat is inshore around submerged structures, including salt marshes. They move to deeper waters during the colder months, then return to the shallow areas in the early Spring.
Feeding: Killifish eat small crustaceans, flying insects, and plant seeds. Juveniles are limited to smaller crustaceans. Feeding is most active in the afternoon.
Breeding: F. majalis spawns from June to mid-August in shallow water near vegetation. Clutches can number up to 50 eggs, with females laying multiple clutches. Eggs hatch in 10 to 12 days.
