Hoosier Cavefish Discovered in Caves in Southern Indiana
Posted on May 29, 2014
The Hoosier Cavefish, a new species of eyeless cavefish, has been discovered in caves in southern Indiana. The cavefish, Amblyopsis hoosieri, is the first cavefish species described in the U.S. in 40 years. The fish reach 60 to 80 mm in length (2.3 to 3.1 inches) and have large head that is about 1/4 body length.
The newly discovered fish is the closest relative of A. spelaea, which is found in the longest cave system in the world, Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. The new species has a plumper body and shorter fins than its relative. It also has smaller mechanosensory neuromasts on papillae, which allow them to sense movement in the dark waters of the caves they are found in. This fish has an anus behind its head. Females brood their young in their gill chamber.
A research paper on the endangered new species is published here in Zookeys.
The cavefish is named after the Indiana Hoosiers. The name was given to honor the proximity of the fish to Indiana University as well as to honor several ichthyologists who worked there. The authors say, "The senior author of the manuscript is a fervent fan of Indiana Hoosier basketball, but the first author is an alumni of the University of Michigan and is not. Also notable is that the middle author of the publication is currently an undergraduate at Louisiana State University."