Classification / Names
Common names | Synonyms | Catalog of Fishes(genus, species) | ITIS | CoL | WoRMS | Cloffa
Teleostei (teleosts) >
Percopsiformes (Trout-perches, pirate perches and cavefishes) >
Amblyopsidae (Cavefishes)
Etymology: Amblyopsis: Greek, amblys = darkness + Greek, ops = shape (Ref. 45335); hoosieri: The specific name is in reference to this species being from the state of Indiana and also in 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. The name is derived from the proper noun Hoosier. The senior author of the manuscript is an avid fan of Indiana Hoosier basketball while the first author is an alumni of the
University of Michigan..
Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range
Ecology
Freshwater; benthopelagic. Temperate
North America: Indiana, USA.
Size / Weight / Age
Maturity: Lm ? range ? - ? cm
Max length : 8.2 cm SL male/unsexed; (Ref. 96073)
Short description
Identification keys | Morphology | Morphometrics
Dorsal soft rays (total): 8 - 11; Anal soft rays: 8 - 10; Vertebrae: 29 - 30. Differs from its only congener, Amblyopsis pelaea by having the following characters: body more plump, fleshy and rounded (vs. sculpted, thin) with Bibendum-like wrinkles along myomeres (vs. tight skin); pectoral fins rounder (vs. pointed); and mechansensory papillae on the body and caudal fin reduced in size and less elevated on the skin (vs. conspicuous) (Ref. 96073).
Inhabits mainly larger cave streams at or near the water table where it has been observed in slow flowing pools at depths as shallow as 0.1 m to > 2 m deep. Reported to feed on copepods, isopods, and amphipods but larger individuals prey upon small crayfish. Spawning probably takes place during high water levels from February through April. Females incubate eggs in their branchial cavities until hatching and continue to care for fry until yolk reserves are depleted 4-5 months later. Likely attains sexual maturity in 3-4 years (Ref. 96073).
Life cycle and mating behavior
Maturities | Reproduction | Spawnings | Egg(s) | Fecundities | Larvae
Chakrabarty, P., J.A. Prejean and M.L. Niemiller, 2014. The hoosier cavefish, a new and endangered species (Amblyopsidae, Amblyopsis) from the caves of southern India. Zookeys 412:41-57. (Ref. 96073)
IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)
Threat to humans
Harmless
Human uses
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Estimates based on models
Phylogenetic diversity index (Ref.
82804): PD
50 = 0.6338 [Uniqueness, from 0.5 = low to 2.0 = high].
Bayesian length-weight: a=0.01000 (0.00244 - 0.04107), b=3.04 (2.81 - 3.27), in cm total length, based on all LWR estimates for this body shape (Ref.
93245).
Trophic level (Ref.
69278): 3.6 ±0.5 se; based on size and trophs of closest relatives
Resilience (Ref.
120179): Medium, minimum population doubling time 1.4 - 4.4 years (Preliminary K or Fecundity.).
Fishing Vulnerability (Ref.
59153): Low vulnerability (10 of 100).
