Common name: Bluefin Killifish

Taxonomy: available through www.itis.gov

Identification: Menhinick (1991); Page and Burr (1991); Mettee et al. (1996).

Size: 5 cm.

Native Range: Throughout Florida, except in panhandle only as far west as Choctawhatchee River drainage and southeastern Alabama in Chipola River drainage (Page and Burr 1991); sporadically along Atlantic Coast as far north as central South Carolina (where possibly introduced).

Alaska	Hawaii	Puerto Rico & Virgin Islands	Guam Saipan

Native range data for this species provided in part by NatureServe

Hydrologic Unit Codes (HUCs) Explained
Interactive maps: Point Distribution Maps

Means of Introduction: Unknown. Based on meristics, the South Carolina population came from Florida (Christie and Curtis 1983). The Texas population was most likely introduced with shipments of aquatic nursery plants from Florida.

Status: Established in California, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Impact of Introduction: The impacts of this species are currently unknown, as no studies have been done to determine how it has affected ecosystems in the invaded range. The absence of data does not equate to lack of effects. It does, however, mean that research is required to evaluate effects before conclusions can be made.

Remarks: The isolated population near Wilmington, North Carolina, is similar to the isolated population of Heterandria formosa, another species listed by Menhinick (1991) as introduced. These similar distributions could indicate a shared transport event, or alternatively, a shared refugium (Starnes, personal communication).

References: (click for full references)

Christie R. W., and T. A. Curtis. 1983. Establishment of bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei, in Cooper River, South Carolina. Georgia Journal of Science 41(3):91-92.

Gallaway, B.J., R.G. Fechhelm, and R.G. Howells. 2008. Introduction of the bluefin killifish (Lucania goodei) in Texas. Texas J. Sci. 60(1): 69-72.

Huang, D., R.N. Lea, and J. Wolf. 2003. Occurrence of the bluefin killifish, Lucania goodei, in the San Dieguito River, southern California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. 102: 46-49.

Lee, D. S., C. R. Gilbert, C. H. Hocutt, R. E. Jenkins, D. E. McAllister, and J. R. Stauffer, Jr. 1980 et seq. Atlas of North American freshwater fishes. North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, Raleigh, North Carolina. 867 pp.

Loyacano, H.A., Jr. 1975. A list of freshwater fishes of South Carolina. Bulletin of the South Carolina Experimental Station 580:1-8.

Menhinick, E. F. 1991. The freshwater fishes of North Carolina. North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. 227 pp.

Page, L. M., and B. M. Burr. 1991. A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. The Peterson Field Guide Series, Volume 42. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston, MA.

Other Resources:
US Fish and Wildlife Service Ecological Risk Screening Summary for Lucania goodei

Author: Fuller, P.

Peer Review Date: 6/25/2008

This information is preliminary or provisional and is subject to revision. It is being provided to meet the need for timely best science. The information has not received final approval by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and is provided on the condition that neither the USGS nor the U.S. Government shall be held liable for any damages resulting from the authorized or unauthorized use of the information.