pupfish

American  

[puhp-fish] / ˈpʌpˌfɪʃ /

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.

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Etymology

Origin of pupfish

First recorded in 1945–50; pup + fish

Example Sentences

We walked to the end of town, where spring-fed pools hold the fate of the only population of Shoshone pupfish in the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2026

The waves clean off decaying organic matter that could cause pockets of low oxygen, which can be fatal to pupfish eggs.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

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

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 12, 2024

Biologists have been feeding the pupfish frozen food to supplement their regular diet of algae since 2007.

From New York Times • May 9, 2024

Not only that, but the pupfish are believed to be one of the most inbred of all species, a lack of genetic variation that makes it difficult for the creatures to procreate and thrive.

From New York Times • May 9, 2024