Amblyopsis rosae
Ozark Cavefish
Collection Details
Specimens
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Records
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Percopsiformes
Amblyopsidae (Cavefishes)
Amblyopsis
Amblyopsis rosae (Ozark Cavefish)
Description
This species account was compiled from
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Characters
Body shape: elongated. Pink-white. No eyes (vestigial eye tissues under skin). No pelvic fins. Usually 8 anal rays; 9-11 branched caudal rays.
Distribution
North America: Springfield Plateau in southwestern Missouri, northeastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas (Arkansas and upper White River drainages), USA.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. demersal. Found in: streams.
Biology
Adults inhabit subterranean waters of quite small cave streams. Preferred habitat in these caves is chert rubble though individuals are also found in areas of silt-sand substrates. Stomachs examined contained copepods which constituted about 70-90% by volume with the balance being primarily small salamanders, crayfish, isopods, amphipods and young of their own species (Ref. 34868). Eggs are carried in gill chambers of females (Ref. 205). Threatened by overfishing (Ref. 10172).
Max length: 6.2 cm TL; common length: 4.4 cm TL.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; fertilization: external; bearers (external brooders); parental care: maternal. Incubates eggs in gill chamber of females (Ref. 205).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT), assessed 2012-04-26. Resilience: Low (K=0.3; Fec=25).
Commercial or Environmental Importance
Fisheries: of no interest.
References
Breder, C.M. and D.E. Rosen (1966) Modes of reproduction in fishes. T.F.H. Publications, Neptune City, New Jersey. 941 p.
Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr (1991) A field guide to freshwater fishes of North America north of Mexico. Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston. 432 p.
Culver, D.C. (1986) Cave Faunas. p. 427-443. In M.E. Soulé (ed.) Conservation Biology. Sinauer Associates, Inc., Massachusetts.
Proudlove, G.S. (1997) A synopsis of the hypogean fishes of the world. p. 351-354. In Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Speleology, La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland. vol. 3.
Comments On Amblyopsis rosae