The arrangement of the fins, the deep body and the tri-cuspid teeth help to distinguish this fish from the mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus), which is found in the same habitats.

It is found in brackish water in bays, inlets, lagoons, saltmarshes and similar locations with little wave action and sandy or muddy bottoms.

[3] Males are aggressive and will attack fish larger than itself, slashing its prey with its sharp teeth and devouring it when it is subdued.

[1] The sheepshead minnow is a eurytolerant fish able to withstand extreme temperatures and live in a wide range of environments.

This species acclimates to different temperatures partly by altering the activity of enzymatic antioxidants in the body such as catalase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase.

Although sheepshead minnows appear able to deal with oxidative stress caused by temperature extremes, they may be less adapted to cope with microplastics in their environment.

Researchers found that when microplastics were ingested by the sheepshead minnow they decreased the fish’s swimming behavior and caused changes in the expression of genes related to oxidative stress, immune responses, and apoptosis.