Biology
provided by Arkive
The dama ciega blanca is believed to feed primarily upon a variety of crustaceans. Females 'give birth' to two to eleven live young, depending on the female's size. Reproduction occurs between December and February, and young are independent from birth (2).
Conservation
provided by Arkive
There are currently no conservation measures targeting this species.
Description
provided by Arkive
Like many brotulids, this blind, cave-dwelling fish has evolved to exist completely without eyes. This unusual-looking species has a large head with a broad snout, while the scaled body is clear white to pinkish, with long translucent dorsal and anal fins (2).
Habitat
provided by Arkive
Found in freshwater limestone caves and sinkholes (2) (3).
Range
provided by Arkive
Occurs along the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico in Central America (2) (3).
Status
provided by Arkive
Classified as Vulnerable (VU) on the IUCN red List 2006 (1).
Threats
provided by Arkive
The main threats to this species are various forms of water pollution caused by humans. In rural areas sewage is rarely treated before being discarded, and industrial and domestic waste is sometimes disposed of in caves. Another threat comes from over-harvesting of fresh-water, which may lead to saline waters creeping into the normally freshwater zone. The human population of the Yucatan peninsula is growing, so a greater and greater strain on water resources can be expected in the future. Another potential threat is the modification and/or the intensive use of this fish's habitat by humans for recreational or tourism purposes (2).
Diagnostic Description
provided by Fishbase
This species is distinguished by the following characters: anterior nostril placed low on snout; tip of opercular spine free; 2 pairs of psedoclaspers, inner one positioned in front of outer one; eyes not visible (eyes minute black dots in specimens less than 20 mm SL); head naked; otolith with fused colliculi; 3 lower preopercular pores; maxillary strongly vertically expanded posteriorly, knob at rear corner; 5-7 prolonged rakers on anterior gill arch; anterior anal fin pterygiophore elongated; pseudobranchial filaments absent (Ref. 55786).
- Recorder
- Estelita Emily Capuli
Diseases and Parasites
provided by Fishbase
Rhabdochona Infestation 5. Parasitic infestations (protozoa, worms, etc.)
Life Cycle
provided by Fishbase
Viviparous.
Morphology
provided by Fishbase
Dorsal soft rays (total): 75 - 87; Analsoft rays: 59 - 68; Vertebrae: 40 - 43
- Recorder
- Estelita Emily Capuli
Biology
provided by Fishbase
Uncommon species found in caves and sinkholes (Ref. 34024). Associated with the blind synbranchid fish Ophisternon infernale (Hubbs, 1938) and several blind crustacean species. In only one cave, it was found with the catfish Rhamdia guatemalensis (Günther, 1864). This species does not react to flashlights, but darted away at the slightest vibration; it seems to feed on troglobitic shrimps and mysids. Newly-born juveniles are light yellow and about 20 mm long (Ref. 55786).
Importance
provided by Fishbase
fisheries: of no interest
Mexican blind brotula
provided by wikipedia EN
The Mexican blind brotula (Typhliasina pearsei) is a species of viviparous brotula endemic to Mexico, where it is found in sinkholes and caves. It is known as sak kay in Mayan and dama blanca ciega in Spanish. This cavefish grows to a standard length of 9.7 cm (3.8 in). It is the only known member of its genus.[2]
Description
The Mexican blind brotula has a large, laterally compressed, scaleless head with no eyes, but several papillae and cavities which contain sensory organs. The nostrils are located on the upper lip and the mouth has a longitudinal split at the back. The body bears scales and has long dorsal and anal fins which terminate close to, but are separate from, the caudal fin. The dorsal fin has no spines and 75 to 87 soft rays, and the anal fin has no spines and 59 to 68 soft rays. The male has two pairs of pseudoclaspers, the inner ones being in front of the outer ones. The standard length is about 9.7 cm (3.8 in). The skin does not contain pigment, making the fish appear pinkish-white.[3][4]
Distribution
The Mexican blind brotula inhabits the cenotes (water-filled sink holes) and aquifers in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where the temperature is between 23 and 27 °C (73 and 81 °F) throughout the year.[3] These are typically anchialine (connected to the sea), but the Mexican blind brotula is only known from the sections with fresh or brackish water.[5][6]
Ecology
A Mexican blind brotula and several
cirolanid cave isopods (
Creaseriella anops)
The Mexican blind brotula is the top predator in the Yucatán aquifer system and is probably not very numerous. It feeds on crustaceans such as shrimps and mysids that also inhabit the aquifers. In some locations, it is associated with another blind fish, the blind swamp eel (Ophisternon infernale) and in one cave system, with the catfish Rhamdia guatemalensis. It does not react to light, but is very sensitive to vibrations.[4] It is a viviparous fish, giving birth to up to a dozen young between December and February. The newborns are yellowish and about 2.4 to 3.7 cm (0.9 to 1.5 in) in length.[3]
Status
The main threat faced by this fish is from water pollution; the aquifers in which it lives are below inhabited areas with inadequate sanitary arrangements, so that coliform bacteria may leak in, and excess nitrates may be in wastewater.[3] The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the conservation status of this fish as being "near threatened".[1]
Etymology
The generic name derives from the Greek typhlos meaning "blind" and the specific name honours the American ecologist, Arthur Sperry Pearse (1877-1956), who was the collector of the type specimen used by Carl Leavitt Hubbs to describe the species.[7]
References
-
^ a b Arroyave, J., Schmitter-Soto, J. & Lyons, T.J. 2019. Typhlias pearsei. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T39296A2896759. https://doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T39296A2896759.en. Downloaded on 25 July 2019.
-
^ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2017). Species of Typhliasina in FishBase. May 2017 version.
-
^ a b c d Aldemaro, Romero (2013). The biology of hypogean fishes. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 214. ISBN 978-94-015-9795-1.
-
^ a b Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.) (2017). "Typhliasina pearsei" in FishBase. May 2017 version.
-
^ Berglund, J. (30 May 2014). "Searching for Life in Mexico's Underwater Caves". Discover. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
-
^ Proudlove, G. "Typhliasina pearsei". CaveBiology. Retrieved 28 April 2017.
-
^ Christopher Scharpf & Kenneth J. Lazara (2017). "Order OPHIDIIFORMES: Families BYTHITIDAE, DINEMATICHTHYIDAE and PARABROTULIDAE". The ETYFish Project Fish Name Etymology Database. Christopher Scharpf and Kenneth J. Lazara. Retrieved 3 July 2018.
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- Wikipedia authors and editors
Mexican blind brotula: Brief Summary
provided by wikipedia EN
The Mexican blind brotula (Typhliasina pearsei) is a species of viviparous brotula endemic to Mexico, where it is found in sinkholes and caves. It is known as sak kay in Mayan and dama blanca ciega in Spanish. This cavefish grows to a standard length of 9.7 cm (3.8 in). It is the only known member of its genus.
- license
- cc-by-sa-3.0
- copyright
- Wikipedia authors and editors
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