Cyprinodontidae

noun

Pupfishes are known from the United States, Middle America, West Indies, parts of northern South America, northern Africa, and Mediterranean Anatolian region. Chiefly freshwater and brackish; rarely coastal marine. Egg-laying. Males without gonopodium (external fertilization). Dorsal processes of maxillaries expanded medially, nearly meeting in the midline; lateral arm of maxilla expanded. About 22 cm maximum length.

The family Cyprinodontidae belongs to the Class Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes) and the Order Cyprinodontiformes. It contains 9 genera and 100 species. It may be found in Marine, Brackish, and Freshwater environments and is primarily Secondary freshwater. Many members of this family are used in the aquarium trade. Reproductively, most members of this family are nonguarders. The main mode of swimming of adult fish in this family is subcarangiform. Members of this family have been dated back to the Oligocene epoch of the Tertiary period. This family may be found from 47° n to 20° s and 120° w to 62° e. Etymology of this family name: Greek, kyprinos = goldfish + Greek, odous = tooth, teeth