Typhlichthys subterraneus
Southern Cavefish
Taxonomic Hierarchy
Actinopterygii (Ray-finned Fishes)
Percopsiformes
Amblyopsidae (Cavefishes)
Typhlichthys
Typhlichthys subterraneus (Southern 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). Large, broad head. Caudal fin with 0-2 rows of papillae (Ref. 5723) and a vertical basal row (Ref. 10294); 10-15 branched caudal rays (Ref. 5723).
Distribution
North America: portions of Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri and Arkansas, U.S.A.
Habitat Associations
Freshwater. demersal. Found in: streams.
Biology
Adults inhabit subterranean water (Ref. 5723). Found in caves which are near the water table and are therefore more uniform than other amblyopsid caves (Ref. 34868). Feed mainly on copepods, amphipods and isopods (Ref. 10294). Eggs are carried in gill chambers of females (Ref. 205).
Max length: 9.0 cm TL; common length: 5.0 cm TL; max age: 4 years.
Reproductive mode: dioecism; bearers (external brooders). Incubates eggs in gill chamber of females (Ref. 205). Fecundity is very low, perhaps fewer that 50 ova per female (Ref. 10294).
IUCN Red List Status: Near Threatened (NT), assessed 2012-08-07. Resilience: Medium (K=0.43; tm=2; tmax=4).
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.
Etnier, D.A. and W.C. Starnes (1993) The fishes of Tennessee. The University of Tennessee Press, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA. (pls. check date).
Poulson, T.L. (1963) Cave adaptation in amblyopsid fishes. Am. Midl. Nat. 70(2):257-290.
Poly, W.J. and G.S. Proudlove (2004) Family Amblyopsidae Bonaparte 1846 cavefishes. Calif. Acad. Sci. Annotated Checklists of Fishes (25):7.
Comments On Typhlichthys subterraneus