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Re: APD V4 #434 - Flag fish
> Date: Tue, 25 Jul 2000 16:49:52 -0700
> From: Marci
> I see these flag fish mentioned all the time. I can't track
> down in any book the common name flag fish, and I have
> no idea what they are, though I would love to find out. So,
> Kevin, would you describe them for me?
> Anyone have a pic they would send me, or a scientific
> name, or a west coast colloquial name I might recognize
> the fish by?
From "Freshwater Fishes" (A Petersen Field Guide)
Lawrence M. Page and Brooks M. Burr
Houghton Mifflin Co.
ISBN 0-395-53933-1
"Flagfish _Jordanella floridae_
"Identification: Large black spot on midside; often several smaller spots
along side. Alternating thin black and red-orangelines, gold flecks, on
side. Long dorsal fin, 14-18 rays. Gray-green above; silver-white below;
clear to dusky red fins. Large male is bright red-orange, has red wavy
lines, white spots in dusky black dorsal fin; juveniles and females have
white halo around small black spot at rear of dorsal fin. 25-27 lateral
scales; 11-13 anal rays. To 2-1/2 in. (6.5 cm).
"Range: Peninsular Florida north to St. Johns and Ochlockonee R. drainages.
Common.
"Habitat: Vegetated sloughs, ponds, lakes, and sluggish streams; enters
brackish waters."
> (Something tells me these fish are gonna turn out to be
> guppies....)
Nope, they're members of the Cyprinodontidae - the Pupfishes.
Another common name is the "American Flag Fish"...
-Y-
David A. Youngker
nestor10 at mindspring_com