pupfish

[puhp-fish]

noun

plural

pupfish ,

plural

pupfishes .

1. any of several tiny, stout killifishes of the genus Cyprinodon, inhabiting marshy waters in arid areas of western North America: several species are endangered.

Word History and Origins

Origin of pupfish¹

First recorded in 1945–50; pup + fish

Example Sentences

But for the Devils Hole pupfish, a critically endangered species found only in a deep limestone cave in Death Valley, an earthquake signals that it’s time to do something a bit more intimate.

From Los Angeles Times

For the typically still-water environment, the waves disrupted the shallow shelf that the pupfish use as a spawning area, likely knocking eggs deep into the cavern.

From Los Angeles Times

Before the mid-1990s, scientists counted between 200 and 250 Devils Hole pupfish each spring.

From Los Angeles Times

In the short term, Wilson said, earthquakes aren’t great for the pupfish.

From Los Angeles Times

Scientists found 191 pupfish in April — the highest spring count since 1999.

From Los Angeles Times