Bahama Cavefish

description

Description. Meristic and morphometric characters are given in Tables 1 – 3. Body moderately elongate, compressed. Head profile strongly depressed (figs. 4, 7 – 9). Eyes usually relatively large (> 1 % SL), except for a few specimens (AMNH 53011, 132 mm SL, New Providence; AMNH 53013, 101 and 103 mm SL, New Providence; AMNH 57448, 96 mm SL, Long Island (fig. 4 E – F); USNM 274737, 109 mm SL, Long Island and ZMUC P 771452, 136 mm SL, Long Island) with eyes from 0.7 to 1.0 % SL (fig. 5). Upper jaw slightly protruding. Anterior nostril tube­shaped, low on snout near upper lip; posterior nostril larger, a mere hole, closer to lip than to eye. Maxilla expanded posteriorly, not sheathed by a skin flap. Opercular spines absent. Anterior gill arch with 3 elongated rakers and 17 (12 – 20) broad plates arranged in the following configuration: upper branch of anterior gill arch with 4 (2 – 5) broad plates, the bend between upper and lower arch with 1 elongate raker and lower branch with 1 small plate, 2 elongate rakers interspersed with 1 small plate and followed by 12 (7 – 12) small plates. Pseudobranchial filaments 0 (0 – 4). Branchiostegal rays 7. Scales on body relatively small, oval (hor

Revision of the Bahamian cave­fishes of the genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), with description of a new species from islands on the Little Bahama Bank

diagnosis

Diagnosis. Lucifuga spelaeotes is distinguished from other members of the genus by the following combination of characters: Vertebrae 13 – 14 + 38 – 42 = 51 – 55, dorsal finrays 86 – 109, anal finrays 66 – 82, pectoral finrays 17 – 20, caudal finrays 10; head profile above eye strongly depressed, eyes 0.7 – 1.8 % SL; palatine teeth present, in 1 – 7 short irregular rows, with 3 – 56 teeth totally; long gill­rakers 3, dark pigmented. Similarity. Lucifuga spelaeotes is most similar to L. lucayana (Tables 1 – 3). It differs mainly in the reduced squamation on the occiput (vs. densely scaled in L. lucayana) (fig. 4), the presence of palatine teeth, except absent in one side of a single specimen, USNM 274737 (vs. absent in L. lucayana) (fig. 6), and in having dark pigmentation on the three 60 50 40 teeth Palatine 30 20 10 elongated gill­rakers, except absent in 3 specimens: AMNH 57448, USNM 274737 and ZMUC P 771363 (vs. pale in L. lucayana). Also, the number of finrays and vertebrae tend to be higher in L. spelaeotes than in L. lucayana (Tables 1 – 3). Differences to the four Cuban species are shown in Table 3. Lucifuga spelaeotes resemble the Cuban species L. dentata and L. simile in t

Revision of the Bahamian cave­fishes of the genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), with description of a new species from islands on the Little Bahama Bank

discussion

Remarks. Sexual dimorphism is not observed in any of the described characters. The morphology of the few specimens from Berry, Eleuthera, Great Exuma and Long Island are generally well within the ranges of the numerous specimens from New Providence Island (Table 2). The few exceptions, such as unique coloration and longer pelvic finrays (20.0 vs. 8.0 – 18.9 % SL) of the specimen from Eleuthera; weak palatine dentition and unusually small eyes of the two specimens from southern Long Island; and pale, elongated gill­rakes in the specimen from Great Exuma Island, are not enough difference to warrant status as separate species. More material is needed in order to further study the morphological and genetic plasticity of the populations on the various Islands.

Revision of the Bahamian cave­fishes of the genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), with description of a new species from islands on the Little Bahama Bank

distribution

Distribution and habitat. Known from the Great Bahama Bank area, with confirmed localities on five islands (Berry, New Providence, Great Exuma, Eleuthera and Long Islands (figs. 1, 10) (see Material examined). Unconfirmed records of L. spelaeotes from Andros Island (Farr & Palmer 1984, Proudlove 1984, B. Kakuk in litt. (in Cohen & McCosker 1998) and Long Island, Grand Canyon, 22 ° 57.423 ’ N, 74 ° 51.238 ’ W, east of Berrys settlement (T. Iliffe January 2005, personal observation). Twin Pillars Cave in Miley, southern Long Island (23 ° 03.841 ’ N, 74 ° 55.503 ’ W) was rediscovered in 2005 and is situated within a few meters of the east side of the main road. It consists of an air­filled cave with a 30 to 150 cm deep saltwater (34 ppt) pool covering most of the floor. At least 10 skylight entrances, only one of which is climbable, provide access to the cave. While many parts of the cave are well illuminated during the day, various recesses are only dimly lit. At least 24 Lucifuga were observed but not collected in 2005. Other stygobitic species from this cave include the hippolytid shrimp Barbouria cubensis, the polynoid polychaete Pelagomacellicephala iliffei, the halocyprid ostrac

Revision of the Bahamian cave­fishes of the genus Lucifuga (Ophidiiformes, Bythitidae), with description of a new species from islands on the Little Bahama Bank