How many Alabama cavefish are left?

There are likely fewer than 100 Alabama cavefish in existence. Because its known range is limited to a single cave, the Alabama cavefish has an uncertain future.

Why is the Alabama cavefish endangered?

Because its known range is limited to a single cave, the Alabama cavefish has an uncertain future, being threatened by changes in groundwater quality and level, changes in aquifer characteristics, diminished organic input, and perhaps competition with the syntopic southern cavefish, Typhlichthys subterraneus.

What do Alabama cave fish eat?

After an initial radiation underground, the founder cavefish populations became isolated and evolved independently. Food sources are limited in these caves, and likely consist of small soil crustaceans, micro‐organisms, and organic matter present in the water that drops from the cave ceiling (Culver et al., 2009).

How many Alabama cave shrimp are there?

Distribution. The Alabama cave shrimp is only known from five caves, all in Madison County, Alabama.

What kind of fish live in a cave?

In some species, notably the Mexican tetra, shortfin molly, Oman Garra, Indoreonectes evezardi, and some catfish, each “regular” aboveground and cavefish varieties exist. Many adaptions seen in cavefish are aimed toward surviving in a habitat with little meals.

How big do cave fish get in size?

Cave fish are fairly small with most species being between 2 and 13 cm (0.8–5.1 in) in normal size and a couple of dozen species reaching 20–23 cm (8–9 in).

How are cave fish adapted to their habitat?

For instance, throughout the courtship of the cave type of the Mexican tetra, the pair produce turbulence by way of exaggerated gill and mouth actions, permitting them to detect one another. Typically, cavefish are sluggish growers and sluggish breeders.

What kind of cave fish has no eyes?

Phreatichthys andruzzii exhibiting the pale color and lack of eyes typical of cave fish is a species of cyprinid fish. The massive crimson spot on the pinnacle is the blood-filled gills, seen by way of the semi-transparent gill cowl.