Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: TOPMINNOW, STARHEAD

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: ATHERINIFORMES

Family: CYPRINODONTIDAE

Genus: FUNDULUS

Species: DISPAR

Taxonomic Authority: (AGASSIZ)

Taxonomy References: 002

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G4

Status References: 005 , 013

Habitat Summary

"Occurs in sloughs, ditches, backwaters, oxbows, and other lowland wetlands with quiet, clear water and abundant submergent vegetation."

Primary Habitat: "Wetland matrix"

References: 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in southeast lowlands and from 1 locality in St. Charles county. *01*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BOLLINGER CAPE GIRARDEAU CARTER ADAIR
BUTLER MISSISSIPPI NEW MADRID ANDREW
DUNKLIN RIPLEY PEMISCOT ATCHISON
SCOTT ST. LOUIS AUDRAIN
ST. CHARLES BARRY
STODDARD BARTON
WAYNE BATES
BENTON
BOONE
BUCHANAN
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CARROLL
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CHRISTIAN
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DADE
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GREENE
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JASPER
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LAWRENCE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MCDONALD
MERCER
MILLER
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEWTON
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STONE
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 003 , 004 , 011

Distribution by Watersheds

Dardenne Creek
St. Francis R. from Wappapello Dam to Arkansas Border
Little R.
Black R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Mississippi River Alluvial Plains, Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Oak-Hickory Forest
Southern Floodplain Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Big Rivers: Upper Mississippi
Ozark Border
Ozark Border: Missouri River
Ozark Border: Mississippi River
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: Lower Ozark
Mississippi Lowlands
Mississippi Lowlands: Crowley's Ridge
Mississippi Lowlands: Lowlands

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Palustrine
Riverine

Aquatic Associations:

"Palustrine", "Aquatic bed, unknown submergent"
"Palustrine", "Forested, broad-leaved deciduous",
"Riverine, unknown perennial", "Aquatic bed, unknown submergent"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001

Habitat Types:

Swamp
Marsh
Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 001 , 006

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Wetland
Marshes
Freshwater Marsh
Pond Marsh
Swamps
Swamp
Pond Swamp

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities: 001 , 003

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
Terrestrial Insects; Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 001 , 009

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: backwaters

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: marsh
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: second order stream

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 003

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: marsh
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: second order stream

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 003

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Turbidity: clear water
Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Current velocity: no noticable current
Water level: permanently flooded
Inland wetlands: swamp
Inland wetlands: marsh
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Stream order: second order stream

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 003

Niche Requirement Summary

Aquatic vegetation specified in comments(00120)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Density of aquatic vegetation: dense
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: backwaters
Inland wetlands: ditch
Inland wetlands: marsh
Inland wetlands: oxbow
Inland wetlands: permanent stream
Inland wetlands: slough, bayou
Inland wetlands: swamp
Stream order: second order stream
Turbidity: clear water
Water level: permanently flooded

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *04*
007 Probably spawn in May *01*
012 Spawning site information unavailable
035 Predators include largemouth bass *08*
099 Normally occurs singly or in pairs *01*. Will jump out of water onto shore and remain several minutes to escape predators, orient using sun to return to water *08*
038 Adults are commonly 1.8-3" long, to a maximum of about 3.2" *01*

Life History Information

Periodicity: active in day
Regulatory factors specified in comments(035)
Age and growth information specified in comments(038)
Other life history information specified in comments(099)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy specified in comments(004)
Foraging sites: water
Foraging sites: feed at surface of water
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *04*
007 Probably spawn in May *01*
012 Spawning site information unavailable
035 Predators include largemouth bass *08*
099 Normally occurs singly or in pairs *01*. Will jump out of water onto shore and remain several minutes to escape predators, orient using sun to return to water *08*
038 Adults are commonly 1.8-3" long, to a maximum of about 3.2" *01*

References for life history: 001 , 008 , 010

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Water - develop/maintain wetlands
Water - control sedimentation
Water - develop/maintain streamside vegetation
Water - stabilize streambanks
Agricultural - control erosion

Beneficial Management References: 004

Adverse Managment Practices:

Water - dredging and filling
Water - control aquatic plants
Water - drainage of wetlands, marshes, ponds, lakes

Adverse Management References: 004

Comments on Management:

References for Management Comments:

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec. Publ. No. 29. 386 pp.
003 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
004 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conserv., 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
005 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
006 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
007 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
008 Goodyear, C.P. 1970. Terrestrial And Aquatic Orientation In The Starhead Topminnow, Fundulus Notti. Science 168:603-605.
009 Forbes, S.A. and R.E. Richardson. 1920. The Fishes Of Illinois (2nd Ed.). IL Nat. Hist. Surv. 3:1-367.
010 Stewart, E.M. and T.R. Finger. 1985. Diel Activity Patterns Of Fishes In Lowland Hardwood Wetlands. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 19:5-9.
011 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
012 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.