Cyprinodon

The type locality originally consisted of a single spring-fed pond located in an endorheic basin known as 'La Hediondilla' at the foot of the 'Cerro Potosí' mountain and around 1880 m AMSL. It had been modified to make it larger via an earth and rock dam, and below the pond were several distributaries running for a distance of 1-1.5 km.

Endemic to San Salvador Island in the Bahamas where it's known from six hypersaline lakes; Crescent Pond, Osprey Lake, Oyster Lake, Little Lake, Wild Dilly Pond and Moon Rock Pond. Type locality is 'San Salvador Island, Bahamas: Crescent Pond, 1 km SE of the Gerace Research Centre, lat 24°06'45"N, long 74°27'28"W'.

This species is a specialised lepidophage with approximately 50 % of the diet comprising the scales of other fishes. Physical adaptations to this behaviour include its elongate body and jaw mechanism permitting a fast biting action.

El Pandeño de los Pando has a surface area of around 287 m² with depth ranging from 40-80 cm but there is an abandoned artificial channel which has an area of approximately 437 m². Water temperature fluctuates between 38-48°C/100.4-118.4°F and the spring is considered one of the hottest environments inhabited by fish in the world.

Need not be too complicated so long as there are plenty of broken lines-of-sight. Provide plenty of cover in the form of aquatic plants, wool mops, etc., and if using filtration air-powered, sponge-type units are best as these will not harm eggs or fry. Lighting is unimportant but can be use...

Tends to be most common in brackish to hypersaline environments such as coastal salt marshes, lagoons and estuaries. On San Salvador Island, Bahamas, it appears to be the parent of a species group occurring in sympatry and exploiting diverse but specific resources with some spectacular morphological adaptations.

The surrounding area is semi-arid and the Bolsón de Sandia was once a beautiful oasis with a number of springs, abundant vegetation and diverse wildlife but has dried up over the last twenty to thirty years due to indiscriminate water extraction for agriculture and other human uses. Three endemic species of Cyprinodon, namely C. veronicae, C. longidorsalis and C. ceciliae, have been described from separate springs within the system...