Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Status of the Banded Topminnow, Fundulus cingulatus (Cyprinodontiformes: Cyprinodontidae)

Abstract

banded topminnow. The holotype is identified as a lined topminnow, F. lineolatus (Agassiz), and thus F. cingulatus becomes a senior synonym of that species. Although the original description of F. cingulatus initially appears to be in disagreement with this determination, reasons are presented to explain this apparent conflict. To stabilize nomenclature, a petition will be submitted to the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, requesting that the name cingulatus be ruled unavailable in the genus Fundulus. Zygonectes rubrifrons Jordan and Zygonectes auroguttatus Hay have long been considered junior synonyms of F. cingulatus (auct.). We concur but also note that the original descriptions of both forms are complex and appear to be based in part on the golden topminnow, F. chrysotus. Although both species are included among the three extant syntypes of Z. rubrifrons, the two remaining syntypes (of the original eight) of Z. auroguttatus are both banded topminnows. Lectotypes are designated for both species. Ongoing taxonomic studies on the banded topminnow indicate that western and eastern populations are distinguished by nonoverlapping genotype distribution for several allozyme loci, by two independent cephalic pore counts, and by color in adult males. Western individuals have six pores in the preopercular series and have both pores 5 and 6 present in the supraorbital series; eastern individuals have five pores in the preopercular series and only pore 6 present in the supraorbital series. Although the two forms have yet to be found living sympatrically, each has been identified in collections from closely adjacent areas of the Santa Fe River system (Suwannee River drainage), in northeastern Florida. We conclude that the banded topminnow comprises two species, of which the western species should be called F. auroguttatus and the eastern one F. rubrifrons.