Fish
Starhead Topminnow
Fundulus dispar · also called starhead topminnows
Just below the still surface of a vegetated backwater, a starhead topminnow feeds on tiny invertebrates, a small star-shaped patch of pale scales between its eyes giving away exactly which topminnow species is at work.
Overview
The starhead topminnow, Fundulus dispar, is a small, slender fish native to still, vegetated wetland habitat across a broad range of the central and southeastern United States. Its distinctive star-shaped facial marking, surface-oriented feeding style, and preference for calm, plant-rich water make it one of the more visually distinctive small topminnows in North America.
A star hiding in plain sight
The small star-shaped patch between its eyes is subtle enough to miss at a glance, but once noticed, it becomes one of the more reliable and memorable features for picking this species out from its topminnow relatives.
Status
Least Concern — widespread and stable across suitable still, vegetated wetland habitat throughout the central and southeastern United States.
Starhead Topminnow: common questions
Why is it called the starhead topminnow?
This species carries a small, star-shaped patch of pale scales directly between the eyes, a distinctive marking visible on close inspection that gives the species its common name and helps separate it from several similarly shaped topminnow relatives sharing the same still wetland habitat.
How does the starhead topminnow feed?
This species feeds mainly near the water's surface, using a slightly upturned mouth typical of topminnows generally to pick small aquatic invertebrates, algae, and organic material from just below the surface film, a feeding style well suited to the still, vegetated water it favours.
What kind of water does the starhead topminnow prefer?
This species favours still or very slow-moving water with abundant aquatic vegetation, such as swamps, oxbow lakes, and vegetated backwaters, conditions that support both its surface-feeding habits and the vegetation it relies on for cover.
How can you tell a male starhead topminnow from a female?
A breeding male of this species develops noticeably more vivid colouration than the plainer female, a difference used during courtship displays and typical of the pattern seen across many other topminnow species during the breeding season.