Cyprinodon julimes DE LA MAZA-BENIGNOS & VELA-VALLADORES, 2009

Julimes Pupfish

Etymology

Cyprinodon: from the Ancient Greek κυπρῖνος (kuprinos), meaning ‘carp’, and ὀδούς (odous), meaning ‘tooth’.

julimes: named for the municipality of Julimes in Chihuahua state, northern Mexico, to which this species is endemic.

Classification

Order: Cyprinodontiformes Family: Cyprinodontidae

Distribution

Known only from a geothermal spring known as ‘El Pandeño de los Pando’ in the middle Río Conchos Basin, Julimes municipality, Chihuahua state, northern Mexico.

Habitat

El Pandeño de los Pando has a surface area of around 287 m² with depth ranging from 40-80 cm but there is an abandoned artificial channel which has an area of approximately 437 m².

Water temperature fluctuates between 38-48°C/100.4-118.4°F and the spring is considered one of the hottest environments inhabited by fish in the world.

Aquarium SizeTop ↑

An aquarium with base dimensions of 60 ∗ 30 cm or equivalent is just about acceptable for a single pair but like most members of the family Cyprinodontidae this species does best when maintained as a group in a larger tank or container.

Maintenance

Need not be too complicated so long as there are plenty of broken lines-of-sight.

Provide plenty of cover in the form of aquatic plants, wool mops, etc., and if using filtration air-powered, sponge-type units are best as these will not harm eggs or fry.

Lighting is unimportant but can be used if you wish, and growth of filamentous algae should be encouraged if possible.

Diet

Wild specimens have been observed to feed on diatoms, cyanobacteria and small invertebrates.

NotesTop ↑

This species differs from its closest relatives C. eximius and C. pachycephalus in the following combination of characters, given as proportions of standard length: head large, 2.4 to 2.7 (2.6) times; dorsal-fin base length 4.7 to 6.1 (5.3); distance from dorsal-fin origin to posterior of anal-fin base 2.6 to 3.1 (2.8);caudal peduncle short, 4.5 to 6.5 (5.4); distance between anal-fin origin and pelvic-fin origin, 6.1 to 8 (6.9).

It also differs in the following, given as proportions of head length: mouth wide, 2.1 a 2.9 (2.4); eye big, 3.3 to 4.6 (3.8); short post orbital distance 2.1 a 2.5 (2.3).

References

1. De la Maza-Benignos, M. and L. Vela-Valladores in: De la Maza Benignos, M. (ed.), 2009 - Chihuahua State: 185-187
   Los Peces del Río Conchos.