It is endemic to hypersaline interior lakes on San Salvador Island, Bahamas.

It coexists alongside two other closely related Cyprinodon species C. desquamator and C. variegatus.

Together, these three species represent a recent adaptive radiation, each having moved into a difference niche within their specialized environment.

Each of these species are defined by distinct trophic adaptations that have affected various aspects of functional morphology.

It has a large in-lever to out-lever ratio for closing its lower jaw with force and a protruding, reinforced nasal region probably used for crushing its specialized diet of ostracods and gastropods.