Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection

DEEP headquarters at 79 Elm Street in Hartford has partially re-opened to staff and members of the public as of Tuesday, February 3. The DEEP records room has re-opened. The DEEP Central Permit Processing Unit (CPPU) will be open to the public starting on Wednesday, Feb. 4. For updates, click here

Pupfishes (Cyprinodontidae)

Pupfish silhouette.

The pupfishes and killifishes are very similar and were once included in the same family. Like killifishes, pupfishes are small (generally less than 4 inches) and have a small, distinctively shaped, upturned mouth; however, they are much thicker-bodied. They have a single soft dorsal fin, a square tail and abdominal pelvic fins.

There is one native species of pupfish in Connecticut.

Click on the species name below to learn more.

Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus) - Introduced

Sheepshead minnow.

 

Text and images adapted from Jacobs, R. P., O'Donnell, E. B., and Connecticut DEEP. (2009). A Pictorial Guide to Freshwater Fishes of Connecticut. Hartford, CT. Available for purchase at the DEEP Store.