Identification and Profile Scope
The name Amargosa Pupfish can refer to Cyprinodon nevadensis as a whole or, more narrowly, to the Amargosa River form. This page follows the species-level identity in the database.
Its local forms should not be treated as interchangeable. A record for one spring population does not establish that another form occurs there.
Habitat and Natural Food
The species occupies isolated desert waters in California and Nevada. Habitats include springs, their associated pools and flowing river reaches.
Algae and tiny invertebrates are foods described for this group. A feeding observation from one local form is not a complete diet study for all populations.
Size and Weight
These are small pupfish, but a single average length or weight across the different forms would imply more precision than the checked information supports. No combined typical-weight figure is assigned.
Measurements should retain the identity of the population or subspecies and distinguish total length from other methods.
Conservation Context
Some forms have specific legal protections, and one historically recognized form, the Tecopa Pupfish, is extinct. The status of the entire species should not replace the status of a particular population.
No bait or capture recommendations are included. Protecting the water supply and preventing introductions are more relevant to these isolated communities than conventional angling advice.
A Desert Fish With Several Local Stories
Isolation has produced geographically distinct forms within Cyprinodon nevadensis. The shared species name connects them, but their habitat, history and conservation status must still be considered separately.
All Lakes With Amargosa Pupfish
Browse lakes and reservoirs with documented Amargosa Pupfish records, listed alphabetically. Records do not establish current abundance or public access. Check the evidence and managing authority for the water you choose.
No published lakes are currently linked to this species in our confirmed records.