Desert Pupfish
The desert pupfish, a small cyprinodontid ranging from one to two inches in length, is an endangered species.
The Desert Pupfish
The rare Desert Pupfish has a unique ability to survive in water from near-freezing temperatures to almost 108 degrees Farenheit, and in salinity from almost no salt to twice that of sea water.
The pools are also home to desert pupfish, various invertebrates, and that ubiquitous invader, the bullfrog. This little froglet hasn't quite completed its metamorphosis from the tadpole stage, as you can see by the short tail.
Some species spend part of the year living under a layer of ice, while the Desert Pupfish (Cyprinodon species) has, on occasion, been found in water with a temperature of 116.6°F (47°C).
However, freshwater fish seem particularly threatened because they often live in relatively small areas. The Devil's Hole pupfish is the smallest desert pupfish species and occupies a single pool 3 metres by 6 metres.
 See also: Crustacean, Dolphin, Mollusk, Whale, Snake
  
|
RSS
