Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Fundulidae (Topminnows and killifishes)
Etymology: Fundulus: Latin, fundus = bottom; a peculiar name for a topminnow, coined for a bottom species of Atlantic coast being "the abode of the fundulus mudfish" (Ref. 45335).
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory. Subtropical
North America: endemic to Bermuda. Fundulus relictus is believed to be a descendant of the Fundulus heteroclitus - F. grandis species group originating from populations on the east coast of North America (Ref. 59062). It is presently believed that none of the killifish ponds in Bermuda contain mixed populations of Fundulus bermudae and F. relictus.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 9.7 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59051); common length : 5.1 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 59051)
Endangered and endemic species found in Bermuda with highly fragmented populations and a very limited range. Found only in a limited number of isolated brackish water ponds and appear to form loose schools consisting of equally sized individuals (Ref. 59051). This species is regarded as omnivorous opportunistic feeder (Ref. The main predators to Bermuda’s endemic Fundulus populations include a variety of birds (mostly herons), and fishes (eastern mosquito fish Gambusia holbrooki, gray snapper Lutjanus griseus, American eel Anguilla rostrata). Additionally, it is believed that the introduced and invasive red-eared terrapin Trachemys scripta elegans is a significant predator in a limited number of ponds (Ref. 59051). Non-annual killifish. Is difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Huber, J.H., 1996. Killi-Data 1996. Updated checklist of taxonomic names, collecting localities and bibliographic references of oviparous Cyprinodont fishes (Atherinomorpha, Pisces). Société Française d'Ichtyologie, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, France, 399 p. (Ref. 27139)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2025-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.3 ±0.2 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): High, minimum population doubling time less than 15 months (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
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![Image of Fundulus relictus (Lover\](/images/thumbnails/gif/tn_FUNDULT0.gif "Image of Fundulus relictus (Lover\")
