Cyprinodon diabolis Wales [Pupfish]
1961

Cyprinodon diabolis, more commonly known as the Devils Hole pupfish, was listed as endangered in 1967.  It lives only upon a shallow shelf within Devils Hole, a deep spring that is part of an extensive carbonate aquifer system in southern Nevada.  Devil’s Hole is a detached unit of Death Valley National Park, located within Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.

The natural coloration of C. diabolis has been lost in the preserved specimens seen in the image above.  Live females are light brown, while males assume a solid silver-blue color in the breeding season, with a black terminal stripe on the tail fin, see the image below.

Devil's Hole Pupfish. 3 cm
Death Valley National Park, DEVA 4135


Cyprinodon diabolis
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
www.fws.gov/nevada/protected_species/fish/species/dhp/dhp.html