(DRAFT) - Taxonomy
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
TAXONOMY
NAME - minnow, sheepshead
OTHER COMMON NAMES -
ELEMENT CODE - 06/12/84
AOU CODE - 04/24/85
CATEGORY - Fish
PHYLUM AND SUBPHYLUM - Chordata, Vertebrata
CLASS AND SUBCLASS - Osteichthyes, Actinopterygii
ORDER AND SUBORDER - Atheriniformes, Cyprnodontoidei
FAMILY AND SUBFAMILY - Cyprinodontidae,
GENUS AND SUBGENUS - Cyprinodon,
SPECIES AND SSP - variegatus,
SCIENTIFIC NAME - Cyprinodon variegatus
AUTHORITY - Lacepede
TAXONOMY REFERENCES - 2539, 2635 and 3349
COMMENTS ON TAXONOMY -
Subspecies 1) C. v. ovinus (Mitchell) MA-VA; 2) C. v.
variegatus (Lacepede) NC-TX; 3) C. v. riverendi (Poey) Cuba
*2635,3349*
Taxonomy - 1 (DRAFT) - Status
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
STATUS
Status - 1 (DRAFT) - Distribution
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
DISTRIBUTION
References on County Occurrence - 001 and 131
References on County Abundance - 001 and 131
REFERENCES FOR HYDROLOGIC UNIT CODES - 001 and 131
REFERENCES FOR OTHER DISTRIBUTION - A
Distribution - 1 HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS
HABITAT - Aquatic
REFERENCES FOR HABITAT - 835, 1230 and 2624
LAND USE -
Water
Bays and Estuaries
REFERENCES FOR LAND USE - 1230, 2624 and 2199
NATIONAL WETLAND INVENTORY CODES
NWI NWICLS NWIMOD NWISPEC
Marine, intertidal FL2 N 3
Marine, intertidal FL3 N 3
Estuarine, intertidal FL2 N 3
Estuarine, intertidal FL3 N 3
Estuarine, intertidal FL4 N 3
REFERENCES FOR NWI - 835, 1230, 2624, 2199, 3348, 3350 and 2775
COMMENTS ON HABITAT ASSOCIATIONS -
Occurs in sea-brackish-freshwater; most common in
brackish, close to shore *2775*
POTENTIAL NATURAL VEGETATION -
065 Northern Cordgrass Prairie (Distichlis-Spartina)
101 Oak - Hickory - Pine Forest (Quercus-Carya-Pinus)
REFERENCES FOR PNV - 4205
ECOREGION -
Southeastern Mixed Forest: Flat Plains
REFERENCES FOR ECOREGION - 4205
Habitat Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Food Habits
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
FOOD HABITS
TROPHIC LEVEL -
Omnivore
REFERENCES FOR TROPHIC LEVEL - 835, 2635, 1371 and 1362
LIFESTAGE FOOD FOOD PART
General Plants Not Specified
General Osteichthyes See Comments
General Animals Not Specified
Adult Plants Not Specified
Adult Osteichthyes See Comments
Adult Animals Not Specified
REFERENCES FOR GENERAL FOOD - 835, 2635, 1371 and 1362
REFERENCES FOR ADULT FOOD - 835, 2635, 1371 and 1362
COMMENTS ON FOOD -
7300S=dead or disabled fish *835,1362*
COMMENTS ON ADULT FOOD -
7300S=dead or disabled fish *835,1362*
Food Habits - 1 (DRAFT) - Environment Associations
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G = General A = Adult
LIM = Limiting RA = Resting Adult
J = Juvenile FA = Feeding Adult
RJ = Resting Juvenile BA = Breeding Adult
FJ = Feeding Juvenile P = Pupae
L = Larvae E = Egg
RL = Resting Larvae
FL = Feeding Larvae
LIFESTAGE ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS
G Water Temperature: Greater than 27 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Between 21-27 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Between 15-21 degrees C
G Water Temperature: Below 15 degrees C
G Turbidity: Clear water
G Substrate: Mud or silt
G Substrate: Sand
G Relation to Substrate: Unattached - normally free living
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Mud or silt
G Bottom Type [Aquatic]: Sand
G Density of Aquatic Vegetation: Low
G Gradient: Low
G Flow: Less than 5 cfs mean annual flow
G Aquatic Habitat Zonation: Specified in Comments
E Water Temperature: Between 21-27 degrees C
E Water Temperature: Specified in Comments
REFERENCES FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1230, 2624, 2199, 3347, 3348, 3350 and 2775
REFERENCES FOR EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ - 1230
COMMENTS ON ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOCIATIONS -
00190S=shallow with little or no vegetation *3348*;
00220S=preference of <20 ppt however has been recorded surviving up to
140 ppt *3348*
COMMENTS ON EGG ENVIRONMENTAL ASSOC_ -
00020S=temperature of 25 degrees C necessary for oocytes
to mature *1230*
Environment Associations - 1 (DRAFT) - Life History
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
LIFE HISTORY
PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION:size=about 3 inches
*2635,2637,1371,3118*; color, male=steel blue-green back with
yellow-orange sides and belly *835,1230,2635,3118,3350,1549*
female=paler, more brown *3350*; REPRODUCTION:breeding season=April to
early fall, 25 C water essential to breed, in areas of warm water
breeding may occur year round *1230,3346,2637,2199,3349,3351,1362*;
incubation period=5-10 days *1230,2635,2199,3351*; broods/year=more than
one considered likely over entire range, dependent upon length of season
*3351,1362*; age at maturity=both sexes mature at one year of age
*2635*; breeding behavior=1) male constructs nest, 2) male attacks
female entering territory, 3) female either flees or remains in
territory, 4)if the female remains the two fish swim together to the
nest where the egg and sperm are released *835,1230,3350,1549,1362*;
BEHAVIOR: territoriality=male defends territory during the spawning
season; larger males dominate over the smaller in both defense and the
size of territory *835,1230,3349,1549,3350,1362*; larger territories are
up to two feet in diameter *3350*; after the spawning season the minnow
travels in small schools *1371,3350*; developement of young=eggs hatch
after 5-10 days; new larvae = 4mm, large yolk sac, continuous dorsal and
ventral fin; after 5 days yolk almost absorbed, larvae >5mm body depth
increased; at 9mm=many adult characteristics present, slender body, back
not fully elevated; at 13mm=almost all adult characteristics developed,
back elevated, caudal fin still more rounded than adult, still lighter
in color than adult *2199,3351*; ORIGIN: native *835,2637,3118,3350*;
AQUATIC/TERRESTIAL ASSOCIATIONS: in Florida=positively associated with
Fundulus confluentes and negatively associated with Menidii beryllina,
Eucinostomus argenteus, Anchoa m. diaphana, Floridichthys carpio
*3348*
REFERENCES FOR LIFE HISTORY- 835, 1230, 3346, 2635, 2637, 1371, 3118, 2199, 3348, 3351, 3350, 1549 and 1362
Life History - 1 (DRAFT) - Management Practices
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
MANAGEMENT PRACTICES
Management Practices - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
References
835* Cooper, E.L. 1983. The Fishes of Pennsylvania. Penn. State
Univ. Press University Park.
1230* Wang, J.C.S., Kernehan, R.J. 1979. FISHES OF THE DELAWARE
ESTUARIES. Ecological Analysts, Inc. Towson, Md:410.
1362* Hildebrand, S.F., Schroeder, W.C. 1928. Fishes of
Chesapeake Bay. Bull. U.S. Bur. Fish. 43 (1927) Pt. 1:366.
1371* Perlmutter, A. 1961. GUIDE TO MARINE FISHES. New York
Univ. Press.
1549* Newman, H.H. 1907. Spawning behavior and sexual dimorphism
in Fundulus heteroclitus and allied fish. Biol. Bull.
12(5):314-348.
2199* Lipson, A.J., Moran, R.L. 1974. MANUAL FOR IDENTIFICATION
OF EARLY DEVELOPMENTAL STAGES OF FISHES OF THE POTOMAC RIVER
ESTUARY. POWER PLANT SITING PROGRAM OF THE MARYLAND DEPARTMENT
OF NATURAL RESOURCES. (PPSP-MP-13). Md. Dep. Nat. Resour.
Md:282.
2539* Grzimek, B. 1972. GRZIMEK'S ANIMAL LIFE ENCYCLOPEDIA..
2624* Swift, C., Yerger, R.W., Parrish, P.R. 1977. Distribution
and natural history of the fresh and brackish water fishes of
the Ochlockonee River, Florida and Georgia. Tall Timber Res.
Sta. Tallahassee.
2635* Brender, C. 1948. FIELD BOOK OF MARINE FISHES OF THE
ATLANTIC COAST. G.P. Putnam's Sons New York.
2637* Ursin, M.J. 1972. A GUIDE TO FISHES OF THE TEMPERATE
ATLANTIC COAST. E.P. Dutton New York.
2775* Bailey, R.M., Winn, H.E., Smith, C.L. 1954. Fishes from
the Escambia River, Alabama and Florida, with ecological and
taxonomic notes. Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci.(Phila.) 106:109-164.
3118* Sterba, G. 1973. FRESHWATER FISHES OF THE WORLD.. TFH
Publications.
3346* DeVlaming, V.L., Kuris, A., Parker, F.R., Jr. 1978.
Seasonal variation of reproduction and lipid reserves in some
subtropical Cyprinodontids. Trans. Amer. Fish. Soc. 107:464-472.
3347* Usher, R.B., II, Bengtson, D.A. 1981. Survival and growth
of sheepshead minnow larvae and juveniles on a diet of Artemia
nauplii. Prog. Fish-Cult. 43:102-105.
3348* Kilby, J.D. 1955. The fishes of two Gulf Coastal marsh
References - 1 (DRAFT) - References
Species minnow, sheepshead
Species Id M010140
Date 26 AUG 96
areas in Florida. Tulane Stud. Zoo. 2:175-247.
3349* Simpson, D.G., Gunter, G. 1956. Notes on habitats,
systematic characters and life histories of Texas saltwater
Cyprinodonts. Tulane Stud. Zoo. 4:115-134.
3350* Raney, E.C., al, et. 1953. Reproductive behavior in
Cyprinodon variegatus, Lacepede, in Florida. Zoologica
38:97-104.
3351* Kuntz, A. 1914. Notes on the embryology and larval
development of 5 species of Teleostean fishes. Bull. U.S. Bur.
Fish. 34:409-429.
4205* Jenkins, R.E. 1984. Fishes of Virginia (tentative)..(publication
pending)
References - 2