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

When it comes to sheer resilience, few, if any, species can match the tiny Devils Hole pupfish.

From New York Times • May 9, 2024

“If, this fall, we have over 300, I’ll be really ecstatic,” said Kevin Wilson, an aquatic ecologist at the National Park Service who has studied the Devils Hole pupfish for more than two decades.

From New York Times • May 9, 2024

One species, the Devil’s Hole pupfish that lives in Death Valley National Park, dwindled in number to just 35 in 2013 before making a small but meaningful recovery in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2024