The Ozark cavefish, ''Amblyopsis rosae'', is a small subterranean freshwater fish

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

. It has been listed as a threatened species in the US since 1984; the IUCN currently lists the species as Near Threatened, though this was previously listed as Vulnerable (VU D1+2 v2.3) between 1986 and 1996. It is listed as Endangered and Threatened by the

Missouri Department of Conservation The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Conservation Commission were created by Article IV Sections 40-42 of the Missouri Constitution, which were adopted by the voters of the state in 1936 as Amendment 4 to the constitution ...

Description

The Ozark cavefish is pinkish-white and reaches a maximum length of . The head is flattened, and it has a slightly protruding lower jaw. The fish has no pelvic fin; the

dorsal Dorsal (from Latin ''dorsum'' ‘back’) may refer to: * Dorsal (anatomy), an anatomical term of location referring to the back or upper side of an organism or parts of an organism * Dorsal, positioned on top of an aircraft's fuselage * Dorsal c ...

and anal fins are farther back than on most fish. It has only rudimentary eyes and no

optic nerve In neuroanatomy, the optic nerve, also known as the second cranial nerve, cranial nerve II, or simply CN II, is a paired cranial nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. In humans, the optic nerve is derived fro ...

. The Ozark cavefish lives only in caves. It has no pigmentation and has lost some unused characters. However, it is well adapted to a

cave A cave or cavern is a natural void in the ground, specifically a space large enough for a human to enter. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. The word ''cave'' can refer to smaller openings such as sea ...

environment through well-developed sensory papillae. They feed primarily on microscopic organisms, as well as small crustaceans and

salamander Salamanders are a group of amphibians typically characterized by their lizard-like appearance, with slender bodies, blunt snouts, short limbs projecting at right angles to the body, and the presence of a tail in both larvae and adults. All t ...

larvae. Their reproductive rate is low compared to most other fish.

Habitat

Caves which have populations of the Ozark cavefish all have a relatively large source of nutrients, such as

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most ...

guano or blown leaf litter. Water quality in caves containing them is usually high. They are able to tolerate the extremely low

oxygen Oxygen is the chemical element with the symbol O and atomic number 8. It is a member of the chalcogen group in the periodic table, a highly reactive nonmetal, and an oxidizing agent that readily forms oxides with most elements as ...

content of ground water found in caves. Cavefish tend to occur in flowing cave streams as opposed to quiet pools. The Ozark cavefish can receive nutrients from the tree roots above the cave. The roots are full of nutrients and water. The roots spread photosynthetic products in the cave, so organisms like Ozark cavefish and other species are able to feed on the roots.

Distribution

The geographic distribution of Ozark cavefish consists of northeastern Oklahoma, northwestern Arkansas, and southwestern Missouri. The fish is native to the Springfield Plateau of the Ozark Highlands. Currently, 15 caves in this area have verified populations. In Oklahoma, populations are known to occur in Delaware County. Historical records for Ottawa and Mayes Counties also indicate populations. Factors that have led to the decline of the Ozark cavefish include destruction of habitat, collecting of specimens, and disturbance by spelunkers.

References

External links

Endangered Species Guidesheet
Missouri Department of Conservation
Ghost Fish of the Ozarks
by Tracy Crede {{Taxonbar, from=Q2707647 Amblyopsidae Cave fish Endemic fauna of the United States Freshwater fish of the Southeastern United States Fauna of the Plains-Midwest (United States) ESA threatened species Fish described in 1898 Taxa named by Carl H. Eigenmann Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN

Description

Habitat

Distribution

See also

References

External links