Northern Starhead Topminnow

The Starhead topminnow can be identified by its light olive tan back and upper sides with the lower sides and belly lighter to yellowish in color. It has a series of red to brown lines along its sides, 6 to 8 on females and 3 to 13 on males. There is a prominent dark blotch of color (similar to a teardrop) beneath its eye. The dorsal fin is located far down the posterior end on the back. Adult length can be 1.8–2.2 inches (47–55mm) There are 16 to 20, usually 18 to 20, scales around the caudal peduncle. There is a bright gold spot on the top of the head from which it gets its name, as well as a smaller spot in front of the dorsal fin.[1]

Starhead topminnow is a freshwater fish will live in glacial lakes and clear, well-vegetated floodplain lakes, swamps and marshes. It prefers quiet areas with plenty of submerged vegetation for it to live and hide in. Spawning of these fish also occur in beds of aquatic vegetation. Spawning occurs from June through July.

The Starhead feeds on terrestrial and aquatic insects, crustaceans, mollusks and aquatic vegetation.

The name Fundulus dispar comes from the Latin fundus meaning bottom with -ulus as a diminutive suffix and dispar meaning unlike, dissimilar, different, or unequal.