Fundulus chrysotus
(Günther 1866)
Family Fundulidae

Lateral view of a golden topminnow
The golden topminnow pictured above was collected in Dixie County, Florida in 2014. It is now part of the Florida Museum ichthyology collection, UF 236231. Florida Museum photo by Zachary Randall

The golden topminnow is a member of the topminnow family. It has a yellow-green body with gold flecks on the side and bright red to red-brown spots on the posterior half of the body. There are seven preopercular pores. The golden topminnow can be found in swamps, sloughs, and pools, and in the backwaters of creeks and small to medium rivers. These topminnows are usually found near vegetation.

Status & distribution

  • Status — Native freshwater
  • Florida Distribution — Western and North Central and Peninsula drainages
  • River Drainages — Perdido River, Escambia River, Blackwater River, Yellow River, Choctawhatchee River, Econfina Creek, Apalachicola River, Ochlockonee River, minor Gulf tributaries, Suwannee River, Withlacoochee River, Tampa Bay, the Myakka or Peace River, Lake Okeechobee, Caloosahatchee River, the Everglades, Indian River, the Tolomato or Matanzas River, St. John’s River and the St. Mary’s River
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