Hoosier Cavefish

description

Description. Robust, blind (eye not developed, Fig. 7), unpigmented cavefish typically reaching between 60 - 80 mm in adult standard length. Head large (about 1 / 4 body length) flat dorsally but broad; head widest part of body. Body widest at operculum, narrows to caudal fin. Body rectangular, dorsal and vertical profile of body nearly symmetrical; deepest point at dorsal-fin origin. Fleshy protuberance present anterior to dorsal-fin origin; similar protuberance at anal-fin origin. Body narrows posterior to dorsal- and anal-fin origins, narrowest point at midpoint of caudal peduncle. Body plump, wrinkly in appearance (as in Bibendum) prominent deep myomeres present. Deep groove on ventral side of body from operculum and anus to pelvic fin. Scales inconspicuous and cycloid. Superficial mechanosensory neuromasts on papillae (Eigenmann 1909, Niemiller and Poulson 2010) present in rows of 5 - 30 on head. Papillae concentrated at mouth; fewer posteriorly on head. Most rows of papillae vertical, far fewer horizontal. Horizontal rows typically connect two to four other vertical rows. Most mechanosensory papillae on dorsal side of head concentrated and aligned posterior to, or between, na

The Hoosier cavefish, a new and endangered species (Amblyopsidae, Amblyopsis) from the caves of southern Indiana

distribution

Distribution. Amblyopsis hoosieri occurs in caves developed in carbonate rock of the Crawford-Mammoth Cave Uplands and Mitchell Plain in the South-Central karst region of Indiana (Fig. 2) within the area that remained ice free throughout the Pleistocene Epoch (Woods and Inger 1957, Frushour 2012). Caves within the distribution of Amblyopsis hoosieri are primarily developed in Mississippian-aged limestones and carbonates belonging to the St. Louis and St. Genevieve Limestone (Frushour 2012). The northernmost locality occurs 16 km from the glacial maxima of the Illinoian glaciation. The distribution of Amblyopsis hoosieri is bounded to the north by the East Fork White River and the south by the Ohio River. The species has been documented from at least 74 localities in Crawford, Harrison, Lawrence, Orange and Washington counties, including 68 cave systems and six springs (Keith 1988, Pearson and Boston 1995, Lewis 2002 a, Niemiller and Poulson 2010, Niemiller et al. 2013 d). Amblyopsis hoosieri is known from the Lower White, Lower East Fork White, Patoka and Blue-Sinking watersheds.

The Hoosier cavefish, a new and endangered species (Amblyopsidae, Amblyopsis) from the caves of southern Indiana

etymology

Etymology. The specific epithet hoosieri is in reference to this species being from the state of Indiana. It is also a reference to Indiana University, where biologist Carl H. Eigenmann was a Professor of Zoology and studied blind cave vertebrates, including populations of Amblyopsis hoosieri in Lawrence County just to the south of Bloomington (Eigenmann 1909). Indiana University was also home to the Father of American Ichthyology, David Starr Jordan, for most of his illustrious career. We derive the specific epithet from the proper noun " Hoosier. " Notably, the senior author of the manuscript is a fervent fan of Indiana Hoosier basketball while the first author is an alumni of the University of Michigan and is not. Suggested common name, Hoosier Cavefish.

The Hoosier cavefish, a new and endangered species (Amblyopsidae, Amblyopsis) from the caves of southern Indiana