Fundulus cingulatus
Valenciennes 1846
Family Fundulidae

Lateral view of a banded topminnow
The banded topminnow pictured above was collected in Calhoun County, Florida in 2014. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 235493. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The banded topminnow is a member of the topminnow family. It has an olive-green body with rows of small brown to red spots, and its fins are clear to red-orange. The dorsal fin origin is over – or in front of – the anal fin origin, and there are six preopercular pores. The banded topminnow can be found in wetlands, ditches and ponds, and in the shallow backwaters of creeks and small to medium rivers. Banded topminnows are usually found near vegetation.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central drainages
  • River Drainages — Perdido River, Escambia River, Blackwater River, Yellow River, Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek, Apalachicola River, Ochlockonee River, minor Gulf tributaries and the Suwannee River
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