Country Species Summary

Amblyopsis spelaea in USA (contiguous states)
Northern cavefish

Amblyopsis spelaea DeKay, 1842
Family:	Amblyopsidae (Cavefishes)	picture () by ( not available )
Order:	Percopsiformes (trout-perches, pirate perches and cavef)
Class:	Actinopterygii (ray-finned fishes)
FishBase name:	Northern cavefish
Max. size:	11.0 cm TL (male/unsexed; Ref. 5723)
Environment:	demersal; non-migratory
Climate:	temperate; 39°N - 37°N
Global Importance:	fisheries: of no interest
Resilience:	Low, minimum population doubling time 4.5 - 14 years (K=0.20; low reproductive rate (Refs. 34868; 27795).)
Distribution:	North America: Indiana and Kentucky, U.S.A.
Diagnosis:	Dorsal spines (total): 0-0; Dorsal soft rays (total): 9-11; Anal spines: 0-0; Anal soft rays: 8-11; Vertebrae: 29-30. Pink-white. No eyes (vestigial eye tissues under skin). Extremely small pelvic fins (rarely absent). Large, broad head. Caudal fin with 4-6 rows of papillae; 11-13 branched caudal rays.
Biology:	Blind and depigmented. Despite the lack of eyes it does respond to light and moves away from it (scotophilia). Inhabits subterranean water or caves which have consolidated mud-rock substrates in shoals and silt-sand substrates in pools but is more often found in caves with uniform silt-sand substrates (Ref. 34868). Has low reproduction rate and broods eggs in gill cavity for up to 4-5 months (Ref. 557; 34868; 27795). Can live for 2 years without food because of low metabolic rate (Ref. 5326). Top predator
Threatened:	Vulnerable, see IUCN Red List (D2) , (Ref. 36508)
Dangerous:	harmless
Coordinator:
Main Ref:	Romero, A. and L. Bennis. 1998. (Ref. 27795)
Update \| Add

USA (contiguous states) country information
Common names:	Northern cavefish	Ref: Nelson, J.S., E.J. Crossman, H. Espinosa-Pérez, L.T. Findley, C.R. Gilbert, R.N. Lea and J.D. Williams, 2004
Status:	endemic	Ref: Poly, W.J. and G.S. Proudlove, 2004
Salinity:	freshwater
Abundance:	scarce (very unlikely)	Ref: Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991
Importance:	of no interest	Ref:
Regulations:	protected	Ref:
Uses:	no uses
Comments:	Distribution may be limited by competition with Typhlichthys subterraneus (Ref. 27795). State endangered species (Indiana Department of Natural Resources), species of special concern (Kentucky Nature Preserves Comission) (Ref. 27795). Also Ref 27299, 51651. Status of threat: threatened; status same as 1989. Criteria: 1,5 (http://fisc.er.usgs.gov/afs/) (Ref. 81264).
States/Provinces:	Indiana (endemic) Kentucky (endemic)
States/Provinces Complete?:	No
Country Information:	www.cia.gov/cia/publications/factbook/geos/us.html
National Fisheries Authority:	www.nmfs.gov
Occurrences:	Occurrences Point map
Main Ref:	Page, L.M. and B.M. Burr, 1991
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Checked: Froese, Rainer

Modified: Torres, Armi G.

Entered: Froese, Rainer

CGNET - US

Page created by: Eli, 20.10.03, last modified by Eli, 26.06.07

	Ref.:		Glossary
		(e.g. 9948)		(e.g. cephalopods)
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