Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Cyprinodontiformes
Family: Cyprinodontidae

Listing Status:   

General Information

A small (5 cm long) robust fish with a rounded body shape and vertical dark bars on the sides. Males in breeding coloration are blue with yellow fins. Females and juveniles are tan to olive on the back and have silvery sides. Two species are recognized: the Quitobaquito pupfish (C eremus), and the desert pupfish (C. macularius).

Lead Region:  Southwest Region (Region 2)
Date Listed: Mar 31, 1986

  • States/US Territories in which the Desert pupfish is known to occur:  Arizona , California
  • US Counties in which the Desert pupfish is known to occur:  View All
  • USFWS Refuges in which the Desert pupfish is known to occur:  SONNY BONO SALTON SEA NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
  • Countries in which the the Desert pupfish is known to occur:  Mexico
  • For more information:  http://www.fws.gov/southwest/es/arizona/Desert_Pupfish.htm

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 7 : view all)
Date Citation Page Title
04/21/2006 71 FR 20714 20716 5-Year Review of 25 Southwestern Species
01/29/1993 58 FR 6526 Availability of a Draft Recovery Plan for Desert Pupfish for Review and Comment; (Cyprinodon macularius)
03/31/1986 51 FR 10842 10851 Determination of End. Status & Crit. Hab. for Desert Pupfish; 51 FR 10842- 10851
07/13/1984 49 FR 28583 28585 Notice of Finding on 6 Petitions; 49 FR 28583-28585
05/16/1984 49 FR 20739 20744 Proposed End. Status & Crit. Hab. for Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius); 49 FR 20739-20744

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
12/08/1993 Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius) Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 1 of 1 )
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
04/21/2006 71 FR 20714 20716 5-Year Review of 25 Southwestern Species
  • Notice 5-year Review, Initiation

    • » Critical Habitat

    Current Critical Habitat Documents (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Document Type Status
    03/31/1986 51 FR 10842 10851 Determination of End. Status & Crit. Hab. for Desert Pupfish; 51 FR 10842- 10851 Final Rule Active
    05/16/1984 49 FR 20739 20744 Proposed End. Status & Crit. Hab. for Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius); 49 FR 20739-20744 Proposed Rule Not Required

    To learn more about critical habitat please see http://criticalhabitat.fws.gov

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 1 of 1 )
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Coachella Valley Multi-Species HCP
    Safe Harbor Agreements (SHA): (learn more) (Showing 3 of 3 )
    SHA Plan Summaries
    Aravaipa SHA for Gila topminnow and desert pupfish
    Arizona Department of Transportation
    SHA for topminnows and pupfish in Arizona

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 2 of 2 )
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    07/13/1984 49 FR 28583 28585 Notice of Finding on 6 Petitions; 49 FR 28583-28585
  • Notice 12 month petition finding, Warranted
    • 06/14/1983 48 FR 27273 27274 Findings on Certain Petitions; 48 FR 27273-27274
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    Habitat Requirements

    Pupfish are remarkably adaptable and can survive in aquatic habitats with high temperatures and salinities, although they likely prefer more amenable conditions. Given the opportunity, they will move into areas of lower salinities and temperatures.

    Food Habits

    Pupfish are predators on small aquatic organism, including insects, worms, and larger zooplankton. Plants and detritus are also taken.

    Movement / Home Range

    The Quitobaquito pupfish is found only at Quitobaquito Pond and in established refuges on Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. The desert pupfish was extirpated from Arizona and natural populations remain at the Salton Sea in California, and in Mexico. Reintroductions of desert pupfish have occurred across southern Arizona in small streams, pools, ponds, tanks, and other small aquatic habitats

    Reproductive Strategy

    Breed in the spring and early summer, males are territorial against other males. Eggs are laid on the bottom and there is no active parental care; however, the defense of territory by the male may provide some protection for eggs and newly hatched young. Where food is abundant, young of the year may achieve sexual maturity within 6 weeks. Pupfish are short-lives, rarely living more than a year in the wild.

    Other

    Loss of natural aquatic habitats and predation/competition from introduced non-native fish, frogs, and crayfish resulted in the elimination of natural pupfish populations from Arizona. The small reintroduction sites are at risk from contamination by non-native species accidentally or purposely transported from other aquatic sites. Erosion off the watershed also adversely affects these small habitats by increasing sedimentation into the habitat: decreasing its size and interfering with the food base.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: February 9, 2010