Lake Eustis pupfish

Listing Status

Federal Status: Not listed
FL Status: No longer listed in Florida as of 2017, but remains part of the Imperiled Species Management Plan.
FNAI Ranks: G5T2Q/S2 (Globally-Imperiled Subspecies; State: Imperiled).
IUCN Status: Subspecies not ranked

Appearance

The Lake Eustis pupfish is a small fish that can reach up to three inches (7.6 centimeters) in total body length. This species generally has a light brown body with dark vertical stripes around the body and a white dorsum (back), except for breeding males who have a blue back with a clear tail and back fin (Florida Natural Areas Inventory 2001).

Behavior

The diet of the Lake Eustis pupfish primarily consists of crustaceans and aquatic insect larvae (Johnson and Snelson 1978).

Little is known about the reproduction of the Lake Eustis pupfish. Female pupfish spawn throughout the year, with the female carrying seven to 29 eggs at one time. During spawning, the males will develop nests by constructing depressions in the sand while vigorously defending it from other males. Females are not chased away and are courted instead (Johnson and Snelson 1978).

The Lake Eustis Pupfish is a Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) and can only be found in central Florida’s Harris Chain of Lakes.

Habitat

The Lake Eustis pupfish inhabits freshwater lakes along clean, white sandy beaches subject to heavy wave action in areas largely devoid of vegetation in Lake, Marion, and Orange counties (Gilbert et al. 1992).

Threats

The small geographic range and narrow habitat niche inhabited by this species in the heavily populated Central Florida region suggests that habitat loss and contamination are potential threats to the Lake Eustis pupfish. Lack of exotic aquatic vegetation management, alteration of lake shore habitat, and introduction of non-native, predatory fish are other threats that may cause population declines.

Conservation and Management

The Lake Eustis pupfish is protected from take by 68A-4.001, F.A.C. Florida’s Endangered and Threatened Species Rule.

Species Action Plan

References

Florida Natural Areas Inventory. 2001. Field guide to the rare animals of Florida. https://www.fnai.org/PDFs/FieldGuides/Cyprinodon_variegatus_hubbsi.pdf

Gilbert, C.R., W.E. Johnson, and F.F. Snelson. 1992. Lake Eustis pupfish Cyprinodon variegatus hubbsi. Pp. 194-199. In C.R. Gilbert, ed., Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Vol. II. Fishes. University Presses of Florida, Gainesville.

Johnson, W.E., and F.F. Snelson. 1978. Lake Eustis pupfish, Cyprinodon variegatus hubbsi Carr. Pp. 15-17 in C.R. Gilbert, ed., Rare and Endangered Biota of Florida. Vol. 4. Fishes. University Press of Florida, Gainesville.