topminnow

top·min·now

T0272600 (tŏp′mĭn′ō)n.1. Any of various small fishes of the family Fundulidae of North America, Bermuda, and Cuba, found in fresh, brackish, and coastal marine waters.2. Any of several similar fishes of the family Poeciliidae.

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[So called because the fish swim near the surface of the water.]

topminnow

(ˈtɒpˌmɪnəʊ) n, pl -now or -nows (Animals) any of various small American freshwater cyprinodont fishes that are either viviparous (genera Heterandria, Gambusia, etc) or egg-laying (genus Fundulus)[from top¹ + minnow; so called because they are small and swim near the surface of the water]

top•min•now

(ˈtɒpˌmɪn oʊ)

n., pl. (esp. collectively) -now, (esp. for kinds or species) -nows. any of various small carplike fishes that swim near the surface of fresh or brackish waters in warm climates, as certain killifishes and livebearers: eaters of mosquito larvae. [1880–85]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	topminnow - small usually brightly-colored viviparous surface-feeding fishes of fresh or brackish warm waters; often used in mosquito controllive-bearer, poeciliid, poeciliid fishcypriniform fish - a soft-finned fish of the order Cypriniformesfamily Poeciliidae, Poeciliidae - topminnowsGambusia affinis, mosquitofish - silvery topminnow with rows of black spots of tropical North America and West Indies; important in mosquito controlplaty, Platypoecilus maculatus - small stocky Mexican fish; popular aquarium fishmollie, molly - popular aquarium fish
	2.	topminnow - freshwater fish of Central America having a long swordlike tail; popular aquarium fishhelleri, swordtail, Xyphophorus hellericyprinodont - any member of the family Cyprinodontidaegenus Xyphophorus, Xyphophorus - swordtails