Although their average life span is 6 to 9 months, some survive more than one year. This article was most recently revised and … May 28, 2014. Share On: Tweet. August 29, 2014. However, even among the world’s pupfish population, some groups reign supreme. The species is a native of the Mojave Desert, Inyo County California. The extreme nature of these fish’s adaptation set stands out … Other pupfish are on the official list of endangered species. They may become dormant in winter, burrowing into the muddy bottom. Tecopa Pupfish – Extinction in 1979 Image Credit: Photographed by Phil Pister and published in the book Endangered Wildlife of California. One well-known species, Tecopa pupfish (C. nevadensis calidae), which possessed a maximum length of 5 cm (about 2 inches), was long considered endangered, was declared extinct in 1981. Tecopa Pupfish (Death Valley in Eastern California, USA, 1981) Inhabiting the hot springs of Death Valley, these small fish could withstand temperatures up to 43°C. ... Tecopa Pupfish. Image Source: www.archive.org. Bt once the springs were all merged together in 1965 to build a bathhouse, the water became too salty and hot for them to survive for long. Because of the fluctuating water temperatures, the Tecopa pupfish survived in water as cold as 50 degrees Fahrenheit and as hot as 108 degrees Fahrenheit. Top 10 Maria Sharapova Life Facts. Facts and Fishes: Focus Area 4 Science, Yr 7 Myth Busting – Social Schooling. The desert pupfish is a small, silvery-colored fish with 6 to 9 dark bands on its sides. Pupfish develop quickly, sometimes reaching full maturity within 2 to 3 months. In 1952, the Devils Hole Pool, in what was previously Nye County, Nevada was incorporated into the Death Valley National Monument in California. admin. The life span of the desert pupfish is estimated at 6 to 12 months. The focus of these lessons is to investigate the ways in which fishes can be considered social animals. The Tecopa Pupfish. August 6, 2009. The males were bright blue and females were stripped. Top 10 Legendary Sports Personalities in the World. The Tecopa pupfish got its name from where it lived, in the outflows of the Tecopa Hot Springs in California. Leave a Reply Cancel Reply. Email. Robert Rush Miller first described the species in 1948. The rare Devil’s Hole pupfish lives in an area just over 1 meter (3 ft) wide with a significantly greater depth, while the desert pupfish can survive temperatures of 43 degrees Celsius (110 °F). SIZE: The common length for this species of pupfish 2.3 cm (0.9 in) with a maximum recorded length of 3.0 cm (1.2 in). July 7, 2014. Pupfish are territorial but do live in loose shoals (a group of fish). Top 10 World’s Most Loved Sports. Comment. Your email address will not be published. Cool Facts. The Tecopa pupfish subspecies was originally only found in the outflows of the North and South Tecopa Hot Springs. This tiny fish grows to a full average length of only 2.5 inches. Males are generally larger than females, and have bright-blue coloration, while females and juveniles are silvery or tan. Amidst the dry cracking earth of Death Valley National Park are several springs and creeks where one may find any of 5 types of pupfish. Name. Website. Hearty fish that can survive in water up to 113 degrees Fahrenheit and six times saltier than the ocean. #9 Tecopa Pupfish Tecopa Pupfish (image source) Native in Inyo County, Mojave Desert, California, the Tecopa Pupfish was a subspecies found exclusively in the outflows of the Tecopa Hot Springs. Students will read about how fishes cooperate and have cultural traditions. The desert pupfish (Cyprinodon macularius) is a rare species of bony fish in the family Cyprinodontidae.It is a small fish, typically less than 7.62 cm (3 in) in length. The Tecopa pupfish were small, larva-eating fish that lived in the Mojave Desert in the outflows of water in the South and North Tecopa Hot Springs.