topminnow

top·min·now  (tpmn)

n.

1. Any of several small New World freshwater fishes of the genus Fundulus, related to the killifishes.

2. Any of various small viviparous New World fishes of the family Poeciliidae, of fresh or brackish waters.

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[So called because it swims near the surface of the water.]

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topminnow [ˈtɒpˌmɪnəʊ]

n pl -now, -nows

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / 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]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	topminnow - small usually brightly-colored viviparous surface-feeding fishes of fresh or brackish warm waters; often used in mosquito control live-bearer, poeciliid, poeciliid fish cypriniform fish - a soft-finned fish of the order Cypriniformes family Poeciliidae, Poeciliidae - topminnows Gambusia affinis, mosquitofish - silvery topminnow with rows of black spots of tropical North America and West Indies; important in mosquito control platy, Platypoecilus maculatus - small stocky Mexican fish; popular aquarium fish mollie, molly - popular aquarium fish
	2.	topminnow - freshwater fish of Central America having a long swordlike tail; popular aquarium fish helleri, swordtail, Xyphophorus helleri cyprinodont - any member of the family Cyprinodontidae genus Xyphophorus, Xyphophorus - swordtails