mummichog
Fundulus heteroclitus
A small fish of marshes and tidal creeks on the east coast of North America, also recorded as native to Mexico. It is not a target of sport fishing.
Also called: fúndulo-das-marismas, fúndulo, mummichog
- maximum
- 15 cm
who is the mummichog
A fish of the family Fundulidae, found in shallow brackish waters. It reaches 15 cm and lives in salt marshes and tidal creeks, in the intertidal zone, sometimes in nearby freshwater stretches. It is a resident fish: it stays in the same area and always returns to the same spot. It spawns in the shells of a mussel, Modiolus demissus. It is sold for aquariums and caught for sale, but it is not a target of sport fishing.
Essential profile. Identification, where it occurs and rules, with data from FishBase and the cited regulations. Season, time of day, technique and bait are added once we have a good source for the mummichog; in the meantime, see the similar species.
fun facts
- It breathes air when it leaves the water and always returns to the same area.
- It was introduced to southern Portugal and Spain, where it threatens native species.
identification
Upper profile more convex, and sides with dark bars alternating with silver stripes. Males have a small ocellus, a round spot with a ring, at the rear of the dorsal fin. It looks almost identical to Fundulus grandis, but this species has a more convex upper profile, dark bars alternating with silver, and the male's ocellus.
Loading the next 7 days…
Each card shows the day's index (0 to 100) and, below it, a strip with the index for each hour, from 0h to 23h. from poor to excellent.
Essential profile: the index uses a general fish model (weather, sun, moon and tide), without a season or time of day specific to this species.
where found
It lives on the North American Atlantic coast, from the Gulf of St. Lawrence in Canada to northeastern Florida. In Latin America it is recorded as native to Mexico.
Habitat: Salt marshes, tidal creeks and nearby freshwater stretches, in the intertidal zone.
rules for the mummichog
Summary of the regulations we found, with the source for each. Rules change; before keeping or transporting fish, check with the state environmental agency.
We found no species-specific rule beyond the region's general rules.
catch and release
catch and release Releasing the fish alive, quickly and with a wet hand. During a closed season it isn't always allowed: what the regulation says applies.
It has no spines or venom and poses no danger to people.
how much it weighs without taking it out of the water
Length-weight relationship W = a·Lb (a = 0.00933, b = 3.17; FishBase (relação peso-comprimento bayesiana, estimativa da própria espécie)). It's an average: a fat or lean fish can vary by 10% to 20%.
estimated weight
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sources and references
Essential profile: size, length-weight, depth, countries and conservation come from FishBase and the cited regulations, and the texts were written from those sources. Season, time of day, sensitivities, technique and baits and lures are not included yet, because we did not find a good source for this species.
- scientific FishBase: Fundulus heteroclitus (ficha da espécie)Size, length-weight, depth, habitat, distribution, biology, and IUCN status. Page checked on Oct 13, 2026.
- scientific FishBase: nomes populares de Fundulus heteroclitusNames by country and language.
