Lucania goodei
Jordan 1880
Family Fundulidae

Lateral view of a bluefin killifish
The photo above shows a male, top, and female, bottom, bluefin killifish. These fish are now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 236230. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The bluefin killifish is a member of the topminnow family. It has a bold zigzag black stripe from the tip of the snout to the caudal fin base, and a slender, compressed body with a small upturned mouth. This species has a red-orange caudal fin. Bluefin killifish are usually found in vegetated sloughs, ditches, ponds and lakes, and in pools and backwaters of creeks and small to medium rivers. This species is also sometimes common in spring effluents.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central and Peninsula drainages
  • River Drainages — Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek, Apalachicola River, Ochlockonee River, minor Gulf tributaries, Suwannee River, Withlacoochee River, Tampa Bay, the Myakka or Peace River, Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee River, the Everglades, Indian River, the Tolomato or Matanzas River and the St. John’s River
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