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TextMiscellaneous Fish Families
FRESHWATER EELS – FAMILY ANGUILLIDAE
AMERICAN EEL - Anguilla rostrata
Fish Notes
The American eel is a catadromous fish (fish that live in fresh water and breed in the ocean) that spends its adult life in the streams and rivers of the county and then travels to the Sargasso Sea to breed. Their distribution in the county is restricted by Great Falls on the Potomac River and by the reservoir dam on the Occoquan River. The American eel was found at 45 percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 40 inches
Diet: Fish, insects and invertebrates
KILLIFISHES - FAMILY FUNDULIDAE
BANDED KILLIFISH - Fundulus diaphanus
Fish Notes
The banded killifish favors slow moving streams and tidal areas. With its tendency to swim just below the surface of the water and its lack of dorsal spines, it has become one of the northern snakehead’s favorite prey. The banded killifish was found at five percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 3 inches, rarely larger
Diet: Midge larvae and microcrustaceans
MUMMICHOG - Fundulus heteroclitus
Fish Notes
The mummichog is a species of killifish that mainly lives in estuaries with a small number of freshwater populations. The name mummichog is derived from an Indian term meaning “going in crowds.” This refers to its propensity of travelling in large schools. The mummichog was found at 1.5 percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 3 inches, rarely larger
Diet: Probably similar to the banded killifish diet of midge larvae and microcrustaceans
LIVEBEARERS – FAMILY POECILIIDAE
EASTERN MOSQUITOFISH - Gambusia holbrooki
Fish Notes
The eastern mosquitofish is the only live bearing fish in Fairfax County. As its name implies, the mosquitofish preys on larval and pupal mosquitos and is used as a mosquito control agent in ponds. This fish is able to breathe air from the water’s surface, enabling it to survive in low oxygen conditions. The eastern mosquitofish was found at 21 percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 2 inches, rarely larger
Diet: Mosquito larvae and other small invertebrates
MUDMINNOWS - FAMILY UMBRIDAE
EASTERN MUDMINNOW - Umbra pygmaea
Fish Notes
The eastern mudminnow is a nocturnal fish that feeds at night and hides during the day. This fish has the ability to bury itself in mud to survive droughts. The eastern mudminnow was found at five percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 4 inches, rarely larger
Diet: Midge larvae and small crustaceans
HERRINGS - FAMILY CLUPEIDAE
GIZZARD SHAD - Dorosoma cepedianum
Fish Notes
Gizzard shad are filter feeders that strain plankton from the water column. They are inhabitants of medium to large rivers and lakes. The few individuals collected by Fairfax County have been below lakes and near the Potomac River. The gizzard shad was found at two percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 14 inches, rarely larger
Diet: Plankton
LAMPREYS – FAMILY PETROMYZONTIDAE
LEAST BROOK LAMPREY - Lampetra aepyptera
Fish Notes
Unlike the well-known parasitic sea lamprey, the least brook lamprey is a filter feeder. The adult form of the lamprey does not eat and dies shortly after spawning. They require sandy or silty bottomed small streams to survive. The least brook lamprey was found at four percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: Typically 4 to 5 inches
Diet: Adults do not eat. Larval form diet is unknown but probably feed on planktonic organisms
SNAKEHEADS – FAMILY CHANNIDAE
NORTHERN SNAKEHEAD - Channa argus
Fish Notes
The northern snakehead is an introduced species to the Potomac River that is native to parts of Asia. It has been introduced into parts of Florida also. Urban myths say that this fish can walk on land and survive three days out of water. The northern snakehead can survive out of water longer than other fish because of its ability to breathe air, but it does not have the ability to walk on land. This species has spread rapidly because it can spawn up to five times a year and the parents guard the young. The northern snakehead was found at one percent of Fairfax County sampling sites.
Fairfax County Native: No
Size: Usually up to 33 inches but can get larger
Diet: Any animal small enough to fit in its mouth
SCULPINS - FAMILY COTTIDAE
POTOMAC SCULPIN – Cottus girardi
Fish Notes
As its name implies, the potomac sculpin is only found in the Potomac River watersheds. The potomac sculpin was found at one Fairfax County sampling site.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 4 inches
Diet: Insect larvae and rarely small fish
STRIPED BASSES – FAMILY MORONIDAE
WHITE PERCH - Morone americana
Fish Notes
The white perch is generally found in the tidal areas of the Potomac and Occoquan Rivers. The individuals collected in Fairfax County were at a site not far from the confluence of the Occoquan River. The white perch is not a perch at all but is in the same genus as the striped bass. The Virginia state record is 2 pounds, 8 ounces. The white perch was found at one Fairfax County sampling site.
Fairfax County Native: Yes
Size: 10 inches, rarely larger
Diet: Crustaceans and aquatic insects
References
Jenkins, R. E., N. M. Burkhead, 1994, Freshwater Fishes of Virginia, 1079 pgs., American Fisheries Society, Bethesda, MD
For more information, please email the Stormwater Planning Division or call 703-324-5500, TTY 711.
Distribution maps are based on sampling data collected between 1999 and 2011.
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