[4]: 323  The coloration of the breeding male is striking, with distinct orange spots irregularly speckling the entire body and extending to the head and fin bases.

The decrease in some small areas, although not significant, as in Alabama, and the failure to collect additional specimens from previous samples may indicate this species has been extirpated from the Cahaba River system.

Some abiotic factors that may affect this species include the very limited geographic distribution and preferred characteristics of the environment of southern studfish, especially with respect to water temperature, dissolved oxygen concentration, and salinity.

Ambient temperature is often thought of as a key abiotic condition influencing the distribution and abundance of aquatic organisms, increasing the areas suitable for laying eggs.

The southern studfish's larger crushing teeth are correlated with its diet of 80% mollusks and crustaceans, although the younger specimens collected also contained small insects and invertebrates.

This species prefers margins, pools, and backwaters of creeks and small rivers, with moderate to high gradients, a permanent flow of clear water, and the bottom usually consisting of sand, gravel, rock, and occasionally an admixture of silt.

One major management effort to protect the southern studfish and other killifish and top water minnows located in Alabama focuses on the watershed features and current biological and habitat conditions of Hatchet Creek.

The focus of this effort is to research and develop strategies of future management based on water quality variation, stream hydrology, watershed features, land-use patterns, and biological conditions.