Pupfish are known to adapt to extreme and isolated environments that are difficult for other animals to survive. These pupfish species can be endemic to desert water pools, brackish swamps, seas, lakes, and estuaries. They are primarily native to North America, South America, and the Caribbean sea areas, adapting coastal waters of California and perimeters of certain western salt lakes. The Ash Meadows Amargosa pupfish of Nevada can live in as little as a half-inch of water.