NJIT joined with Louisiana State University and the University of Florida to examine the phylogenomic relationships, morphology, biomechanics and walking performance of the blind
cavefish and its relatives, from an evolutionary perspective.
Flushing artificial bloodlike fluid over excised brains and eyes allowed the team to compare the demands of vision-related body parts in blind
cavefish with the demands in tetras with fully functioning eyes.
Kowalko et al., "Cryptic variation in morphological evolution: HSP90 as a capacitor for loss of eyes in
cavefish," Science, vol.
Finally, even though Belostoma readily feed on
cavefish in an experimental setting and can occasionally be observed in situ capturing fish (Fig.
The olfactory epithelium of
cavefish, Sinocyclocheilus jii and S.
The cave lakes have a genetically blind and albinic
cavefish.
A visual audience effect in a
cavefish. Behaviour 145: 931-947.
That potential change to traffic patterns is somewhere out in the future and dependent on, among other things, the potential impact of stormwater drainage on the habitat of the Ozark
Cavefish.
Washington, Jan 23 ( ANI ): Several populations of
cavefish have constantly and independently, lost their eyesight and pigmentation, which is a remarkable example of convergent evolution, researchers say.
For example, Reif (1985) investigated the morphogenesis and function of the squamation of sharks, Hill (1971) the appearance of scales and patterns of squamation on an actinopterygian, the spring
cavefish (Forbesichthys agassizii (Putnam)), Sire & Akimenko (2004) scale development and squamation pattern in another actinopterygian zebra danio (Danio rerio (Hamilton)).
Cave biologists spotlight the most obvious adaptations by distinguishing among three types of cave animals: Troglobites (or troglobionts) like tiny
cavefish dwell in caves and nowhere else; troglophiles may live in caves most of the time or in similar environments outside; trogloxenes spend time inside and outside caves.
Topics include geographic distribution of
cavefish, biology of
cavefish including cellular mechanisms of eye degeneration, reproduction timing, male mating behavior, migratory neural crest cells, gut contents in relation to prey densities, conservation of subterranean fishes, and genetic diversity of
cavefish populations.