Aquatic habitats fluctuate with the seasons, limiting distribution of fishes during the dry season.
Close to 100 species of freshwater fish have been documented in south Florida including aquatic habitats throughout the Everglades region.
These fish include :
Florida Gar (Lepisosteus platyrhincus). Photo © George Burgess- Bowfin (Amia calva). Photo © George Burgess
- Tarpon (Megalops atlanticus). Photo © Don DeMaria
- Brown Bullhead (Ictalurus nebulosus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Channel Catfish (Ictalurus punctatus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Tadpole Madtom (Noturus gyrinus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Gulf Killifish (Fundulus grandis). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Diamond Killifish (Adinia xenica). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Bluefin Killifish (Lucania goodei). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Golden Shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Taillight Shiner (Notropis maculatus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Coastal Shiner (Notropis petersoni). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Lake Chubsucker (Erimyzon sucetta). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Sheepshead Minnow (Cyprinodon variegatus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Golden Topminnow (Fundulus chrysotus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Flagfish (Jordanella floridae). Photo © Ronald E. Watson
- Mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki). Photo courtesy U.S. Geological Survey
- Least Killifish (Heterandria formosa). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Sailfin Molly (Poecilia latipinna). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Brook Silverside (Labidesthes sicculus). Photo © Ronald Watson
- Everglades Pygmy Sunfish (Elassoma evergladei). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Largemouth Bass (Micropterus salmoides). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Spotted Sunfish (Lepomis punctatus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Redear Sunfish (Lepomis microlophus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Bluespotted Sunfish (Enneacanthus gloriosus). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Swamp Darter (Etheostoma fusiforme). Photo © Noel Burkhead
- Crevalle Jack (Caranx hippos). Photo © David Snyder
- Gray Snapper (Lutjanus griseus). Photo © Luiz Rocha
- Sheepshead (Archosargus probatocephalus). Photo © David Snyder
- Striped Mullet (Mugil cephalus). Photo courtesy U.S. Geological Survey
- Great Barracuda (Sphyraena barracuda). Photo © Steve Jones
- and rainwater killifish (Lucania parva) not shown
During the rainy season, flooding scatters fish across the everglades while during the dry season water fish become limited to deeper water habitats and gator holes. Changes in water level and dissolved oxygen concentrations require fish to be specially adapted to this ever-changing environment. Some fish are able burrow into the sediments and aestivate (live in a dormant state) during the dry season.
Fish provide a mainstay in the everglades food webs. Feeding an algae, aquatic insects, and crustaceans, fish in turn provide food for a variety of predators including alligators and wading birds as well as larger fish.