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1a) No pelvic fins; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins continuous; body snake-like in appearance............................................. Anguilla rostrata - American eel

1b) Pelvic fins present; dorsal, anal, and caudal fins not continuous; body not snake-like in appearance........................................................................... 2

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2a) A gular plate present on underside of head; dorsal fin length about one-half the total length of the fish, with more than 45 rays; snout
short............................................................................ Amia calva - Bowfin

2b) No gular plate on underside of head; dorsal fins short, length always less than one-half total length and with less than 45 rays................................... 3

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3a) Hard, armor-like scales cover an elongate body; snout very long........... 4

3b) Scales do not form an armor-like covering over the body; snout moderately elongated to short................................................................... 5

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4a) Snout length (measured from tip of snout to angle of jaws) more than twice the length of the remainder of the head (angle of jaws to back of operculum); body without prominent
spots................................................... Lepisosteus osseus - Longnose Gar

4b) Snout length less than twice the length of the remainder of the head; body prominently spotted................... Lepisosteus platyrhincus - Florida Gar

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5a) Snout moderately long, shaped like a duck bill; body elongate, scales very small, body feels soft and smooth; caudal fin forked............................ 6

5b) Snout not shaped like a duck bill.......................................................... 7

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6a) Branchiostegal rays 11-14; lateral line scales about 105; adult’s body usually marked with irregular vertical
bars....................................................... Esox americanus - Redfin Pickerel

6b) Branchiostegal rays 14-16; lateral line scales about 125; adult’s body usually marked with a reticulate, chain-like
pattern.............................................................. Esox niger - Chain Pickerel

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7a) Both eyes located on right side of the head; body extremely flattened dorso-ventrally.......................................... Trinectes maculatus - Hogchoker

7b) One eye on each side of head; body not flattened dorso-ventrally.......... 8

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8a) Anus placed far forward, located between pelvic fins or closer to head, except in young; chocolate brown to gray in
color.................................................. Aphredoderus sayanus - Pirate Perch

8b) Anus situated farther towards tail......................................................... 9

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9a) Body greatly compressed laterally with keeled (often saw-edged) belly; coloration metallic silver or gold (see 10b for exception)........................... 10

9b) Body round in cross section, or if laterally compressed, without keeled belly....................................................................................................... 12

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10a) Last dorsal fin ray elongated, threadlike; lateral line straight; anal rays 17-35; color silvery................................................................................. 11

10b) Last dorsal fin ray not elongated; lateral line strongly decurved; anal rays 13-19; adults silvery or golden with a reddish tint (juveniles silvery with a dark lateral stripe).................... Notemigonus crysoleucas - Golden Shiner

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11a) Anal rays 17-25; lower jaw projecting beyond tip of
snout................................................ Dorosoma petenense - Threadfin Shad

11b) Anal rays 29-35; lower jaw not projecting beyond tip of
snout............................................... Dorosoma cepedianum - Gizzard Shad

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12a) Front of head depressed, with 8 long barbels; pectoral fins with strong serrated spines; body without scales....................................................... 13

12b) Front of head not depressed, without 8 long barbels; pectoral fins lack strong, serrated spines, body scaled....................................................... 17

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13a) Posterior end of adipose fin connected to caudal fin.......................... 14

13b) Posterior end of adipose fin not connected to caudal fin.................... 15

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14a) Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins heavily speckled; upper jaw overhangs lower jaw...................................... Noturus leptacanthus - Speckled Madtom

14b) Dorsal, anal, and caudal fins not speckled, upper and lower jaws about equal in length........................................ Noturus gyrinus - Tadpole Madtom

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15a) Chin barbels at least partially white (no melanophores); anal rays 24-28; color generally uniform, without mottling.. Ameiurus natalis - Yellow Bullhead

15b) Chin barbels dark (at least some sprinkling of melanophores); anal rays 18-24; color usually mottled or spotted..................................................... 16

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16a) Upper and lower jaws about equal in length; color usually darkly mottled on lighter background; dorsal fin lacks dark basal
blotch................................................ Ameiurus nebulosus - Brown Bullhead

16b) Upper jaw projects beyond lower jaw; color usually light speckles on darker background (but may be uniformly dark); dorsal fin with dark basal blotch................................................... Ameiurus brunneus - Snail Bullhead

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17a) Spines absent in dorsal and anal fins............................................... 18

17b) Spines present in dorsal and anal fins.............................................. 38

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18a) Mouth upturned and protractile......................................................... 19

18b) Mouth terminal or downturned, never protractile................................ 29

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19a) Third anal ray branched; anal fins of adult males and females
rounded.................................................................................................. 20

19b) Third anal ray unbranched; anal fin of males slender with long rays (forming a gonopodium).......................................................................... 27

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20a) Deep bodied: standard length less than three times maximum body depth; coloration red, white, and blue................ Jordanella floridae - Flagfish

20b) Less deep bodied: standard length more than three times body
depth...................................................................................................... 21

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21a) An isolated, round, ocellated spot (dark spot surrounded by light ring) on caudal peduncle; body color
greenish............................................ Leptolucania ommata - Pygmy Killifish

21b) No isolated, round ocellated spot on caudal peduncle (may have a caudal spot connected to a lateral stripe)................................................. 22

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22a) A single broad, dark lateral stripe present along side of body, often ending in a spot on caudal peduncle............ Lucania goodei - Bluefin Killifish

22b) A single broad, dark lateral stripe absent (several longitudinal streaks present in one species)........................................................................... 23

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23a) Scales along side of body 50 or more; 17 rays in dorsal fin; body peppered with small, black spots....... Fundulus seminolis - Seminole Killifish

23b) Scales along side of body less than 40; less than 14 dorsal rays....... 24

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24a) A dark, tear-drop marking under each eye; several longitudinal streaks or vertical bars present on side of
body................................................ Fundulus lineolatus - Lined Topminnow

24b) Tear-drop markings absent under eyes; body with spots or vertical bars....................................................................................................... 25

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25a) 7 pores lining inner edge of preopercle, origin of dorsal fin posterior to that of the anal fin; usually less than 12 vertical bars (in males) on side of body; gold or red spots or flecks on
body............................................. Fundulus chrysotus - Golden Topminnow

25b) 5 or 6 pores lining inner edge of preopercle...................................... 26

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26a) 5 pores lining inner edge of preopercle, breeding males with red pigment on jaws and sides of
head......................................... Fundulus rubrifrons - Red-Face Topminnow

26b) 6 pores lining inner edge of preopercle, never with red pigment on jaws or head, absent from peninsular Florida, southern most populations occupying the Santa Fe River (Suwannee River
drainage)...................................... Fundulus cingulatus - Banded topminnow

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27a) A single dark spot present on the dorsal fin (also on the anal fin of females); caudal fin clear...................... Heterandria formosa - Least Killifish

27b) Dorsal and caudal fins with numerous black flecks........................... 28

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28a) Body with numerous longitudinal streaks; dorsal rays 14-16; dorsal fin of certain males enlarged, sail-like................ Poecilia latipinna - Sailfin Molly

28b) Body without numerous longitudinal streaks; dorsal rays 7-9; dorsal fin never enlarged........................................ Gambusia holbrooki - Mosquitofish

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29a) Caudal fin rounded; a small vertical bar present at base of caudal
fin.................................................... Umbra pygmaea - Eastern Mudminnow

29b) Caudal fin forked; a spot (but no vertical bar) may be present at base of caudal fin............................................................................................... 30

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30a) Mouth underslung with thickened, fleshy lips; 10-13 dorsal
rays.................................................... Erimyzon sucetta - Lake Chubsucker

30b) Mouth terminal, never underslung or with thickened, fleshy lips, 8-9 dorsal rays............................................................................................. 31

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31a) Dorsal rays 9; mouth extremely oblique, situated at an angle of 35° - 45° to the horizontal; scales along side of body thinly outlined with dark pigment to produce a cross hatch
effect............................................. Opsopoeodus emiliae - Pugnose Minnow

31b) Dorsal rays 8; mouth more or less horizontal (always less than 35° to horizontal); no cross hatch effect on sides............................................... 32

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32a) Anal rays usually 10........................................................................ 33

32b) Anal rays 9 or less.......................................................................... 34

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33a) Lateral stripe on body relatively narrow (its width about one third of body depth at level of dorsal fin), dusky black and sharply delineated; dorsal fin without definite pigmentation pattern.... Notropis cummingsae - Dusky Shiner

33b) Lateral stripe on body wide (its width about one half of body depth at level of dorsal fin), steel blue and less sharply defined; dorsal fin with dark pigment on membranes in middle and back of
fin................................................... Pteronotropis metallicus - Sailfin Shiner

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34a) Anal rays usually 7; a small, oblong spot (continuous with the dark lateral stripe) present on caudal
peduncle............................................... Notropis petersoni - Coastal Shiner

34b) Anal rays usually 8; caudal spot variously developed or absent.......... 35

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35a) A distinct round, dark caudal spot present on caudal peduncle and (mostly) caudal fin, not (or barely) connected to much less intense, thin lateral stripe; scales along middle and upper side of body thinly outlined by pigment giving a chained effect............. Notropis maculatus - Taillight Shiner

35b) Caudal spot, if present, not round, always obviously joined to dark lateral stripe; no chained effect on sides.................................................. 36

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36a) Dorsal and anal fins in adults (especially males) notably enlarged and rounded, often with heavy concentrations of black pigment in membranes; light area on snout of adults (especially males), often brilliant blue in life; horizontally oblong, intensely black spot (intensification of lateral stripe) present on caudal peduncle and caudal fin; origin of dorsal fin distinctly posterior to insertion of pelvic fins, situated at least one fourth of distance back along length of depressed pelvic
fins................................................. Pteronotropis welaka - Bluenose Shiner

36b) Dorsal and anal fins in adults not notably enlarged and rounded; snouts of adults not blue in life; caudal spot, if present, not distinctly oblong, no intensely dark or extending onto caudal fin; origin of dorsal fin only slightly posterior to insertion of pelvic fins........................................................... 37

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37a) Chin essentially devoid of pigment, dorso-lateral scales less sharply outlined with dark pigment; area around anus and bordering anal fin base without concentrations of black pigment; "V"-shaped light area on end of snout (above dark lateral stripe); a small barbel usually present at posterior end of maxillary bone................................... Notropis harperi - Redeye Chub

37b) Chin with considerable black pigment; dorso-lateral scales more sharply outlined with dark pigment, although scales as a whole may be rather dark; "V"-shaped light area on end of snout usually absent; no barbel present at posterior end of maxillary bone...... Notropis chalybaeus - Ironcolor Shiner

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38a) The two dorsal fins widely separated; very elongate and slender body; dorsal surface greenish, sides
silvery............................................. Labidesthes sicculus - Brook Silverside

38b) A single dorsal fin present, or two dorsal fins with a short
separation.............................................................................................. 39

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39a) Two dorsal fins, with a short separation present between.................. 40

39b) A single dorsal fin present............................................................... 44

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40a) Anal fin with three strong, graduated spines; several narrow stripes along sides....................... Morone saxatillis x M. chrysops - Sunshine Bass

40b) Anal fin with two spines................................................................... 41

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41a) Sides with 9 or more blotches, narrow and vertically elongate under dorsal fins; three evenly spaced dark spots at top, middle, and bottom of caudal fin base; snout sharp; midline of belly naked or with a single row of large scales............................... Percina nigrofasciata - Blackbanded Darter

41b) Coloration not as above; snout more blunt than sharp; midline of belly without single row of large scales............................................................ 42

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42a) "W" or "X"-shaped markings present along side of body, lateral line complete and straight................... Etheostoma olmstedi - Tessellated Darter

42b) Coloration not as shown above; lateral line sharply or moderately arched.................................................................................................... 43

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43a) Lateral line scales whitish, causing lateral line to be clearly delineated; four small spots present on caudal fin base, one each at top and bottom and two closely situated medially; lateral line strongly arched above pectoral fin; irregular dark blotches on body.......... Etheostoma fusiforme - Swamp Darter

43b) Lateral line scales not depigmented, causing lateral line to blend in with adjacent scales; four small peduncle spots absent; lateral line moderately arched above pectoral fin; sides uniformly brownish, males with red spots on body and fins........................................... Etheostoma edwini - Brown Darter

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44a) Lateral line absent; adult length not exceeding 50 mm....................... 45

44b) Lateral line present; adult length exceeds 50 mm.............................. 47

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45a) Dorsal spines 5; dark spot on body near tip of pectoral fin; seven or more dark, vertical bars on side; males not blue in
life........................................... Elassoma zonatum - Banded Pygmy Sunfish

45b) Dorsal spines 3-4; no dark spot on body near tip of pectoral fin; five or less (often none) dark, vertical bars on side; males blue in life.................. 46

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46a) Top of head without scales, caudal fin unspotted (but with light or dark background color); tip of mouth lighter than sides of
mouth........................... Elassoma okefenokee - Okefenokee Pygmy Sunfish

46b) Tip of head scaled (scales often imbedded); caudal fin spotted (sometimes only faintly); mouth evenly
colored.............................. Elassoma evergladei - Everglade Pygmy Sunfish

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47a) Five or more anal spines................................................................. 48

47b) Three anal spines............................................................................ 50

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48a) Caudal fin rounded; 12 dorsal spines; four longitudinal dark stripes on head................................................... Acantharchus pomotis - Mud Sunfish

48b) Caudal fin notched; 7-11 dorsal spines; longitudinal head stripes absent.................................................................................................... 49

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49a) Eleven dorsal spines; sides striped or with longitudinal rows of spots; young with distinctive orange or black spot on rear portion of dorsal
fin.............................................................. Centrarchus macropterus - Flier

49b) Seven or eight dorsal spines; sides with horizontal rows of dark spots (larger than those of the Flier)........ Pomoxis nigromaculatus - Black Crappie

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50a) Caudal fin rounded; a dark, vertical bar below each eye.................... 51

50b) Caudal fin notched; no dark, vertical bar below each eye................... 53

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51a) Middle dorsal fin spines noticeably longer than rear ones; front of dorsal fin dark; dark well defined, vertical bars on a gold to silver
background........................ Enneacanthus chaetodon - Blackbanded Sunfish

51b) Middle and rear dorsal spines about equally long; front of dorsal fin not darker than rest of fin; dark vertical bars, if present, less well defined, most often on a greenish or brownish background............................................. 52

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52a) 18 or less scale rows around caudal peduncle; light spots on sides (blue to white in life); vertical bars generally lacking, but if present, indistinct and numbering five or less.... Enneacanthus gloriosus - Blue Spotted Sunfish

52b) 19 or more scale rows around caudal peduncle; sides usually marked with more than five dark, vertical bars; in life, gold spots often present on sides.............................................. Enneacanthus obesus - Banded Sunfish

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53a) Standard length more than three times the body depth; a deep notch between spiny and soft portions of dorsal
fin................................... Micropterus salmoides - Florida Largemouth Bass

53b) Standard length less than three times the body depth; no deep notch between spiny and soft portions of dorsal fin............................................ 54

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54a) Mouth large, extending below the eye; color dark olive-brown with faint, darker blotches and several alternating light and dark stripes on operculum; an orange spot often present at tip of
operculum...................................................... Lepomis gulosus - Warmouth

54b) Mouth smaller, not extending back to eye; color variable, but never as above..................................................................................................... 55

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55a) Pectoral fins long and pointed, when appressed almost reaching dorsal fin origin; if not, then a dark spot present at rear of dorsal fin.................... 56

55b) Pectoral fins long and pointed, when appressed falls short of dorsal fin origin; dark spot never present on rear portion of dorsal fin....................... 57

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56a) Tip of operculum with posterior extension, this flap a dark spot bordered with orange-red (in-life); no dark spot at rear of dorsal fin; gill rakers much shorter than longest gill filaments...... Lepomis microlophus - Redear Sunfish

56b) Tip of operculum with a dark spot, but not extending backwards as a flap and without orange-red (in-life) margin; a dark spot (sometimes indistinct, especially if fin is dark) present at rear of dorsal fin; gill rakers as long as longest gill
filaments...................................................... Lepomis macrochirus - Bluegill

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57a) Opercular spot with pale green margin; cheeks and belly orange with blue streaks......................................... Lepomis marginatus - Dollar Sunfish

57b) Opercular spot black without orange-red margin; body spotted (black) or unspotted............................................................................................... 58

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58a);Body coloration a series of small black spots on an olivaceous background; black opercular flap not particularly
elongated............................................ Lepomis punctatus - Spotted Sunfish

58b) Belly reddish or yellowish in life, sometimes with small dark spots on sides (much less numerous than the spotted sunfish); black opercular flap is stiff, long, and narrow.......................... Lepomis auritus - Redbreast Sunfish