Teleostei (teleosts) >
Cyprinodontiformes (Rivulines, killifishes and live bearers) >
Cyprinodontidae (Pupfishes) > Cyprinodontinae
Etymology: Cyprinodon: Latin, cyprinus = carp + Greek, odous = teeth (Ref. 45335); veronicae: Named for Verónica Contreras Arquieta.
Eponymy: Verónica Contreras Arquieta is the junior author’s daughter and the senior author’s niece. She was honoured for her participation in the collecting trip (1984) during which the pupfish type was taken. (Also see Cecilia) (Ref. 128868), visit book page.
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic; non-migratory. Tropical
Central America: Río San Juan system, Mexico.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 5.5 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 27139)
This species is distinguished from its congeners in having the following characters: maxilla short 0.70-0.77 times in anal fin base; head large 2.7-2.9 times in SL; male with 6-7 diffused dark bars along sides, covering only upper half of body; female with an irregular ocellus on dorsal fin, its black spot half-moon shaped, smaller than a pupil; eye 1-1.2 times in anal fin base; postdorsal-postanal 0.9-1.1 times in caudal peduncle length; anal fin usually smaller than its congeners, 3-3.9 times in head length; teeth absent on 4th ceratobranchial; dorsal fin inserted behind pelvic origin; nuptial males violaceous blue (Ref. 26729).
The springs at Ojo Charco Azul (= Barreno) are part of the Bolsón de Sandia complex, at 1600 m above sea level, and at the foot of Sierra Montelongo Pedregoso. The area is semiarid, with cacti other succulents; a densely woody area of cedar around the springs, except on the eastern side. Formerly the water was crystal clear at 19-20°C, but recently after depletion, the water is brown. Aquatic vegetation includes Ceratophyllum, Potamogeton, Typha, Eleocharis, Lemna, Utricularia, Scirpus, and Chara; crayfish Cambarellus sp. was observed. The bottom is loamy or muddy (Ref. 26729). Not a seasonal killifish. Is very difficult to maintain in aquarium (Ref. 27139).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae
Lozano-Vilano, M. de L. and S. Conteras-Balderas, 1993. Four new species of Cyprinodon from southern Nuevo León, Mexico, with a key to the C. eximius complex (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae). Ichthyol. Explor. Freshwat. 4(4):295-308. (Ref. 26729)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435: Version 2024-1)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
Fisheries: commercial; aquarium: commercial
Tools
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Internet sources
Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.5000 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01349 (0.00591 - 0.03081), b=3.14 (2.95 - 3.33), in cm total length, based on LWR estimates for this (Sub)family-body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 2.6 ±0.1 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
