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Prietella phreatophila Carranza,
1954
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contributors to this species: |
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ScotCat
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Relevant Information: |
The Mexican Blindcat lacks eyes
and is pinkish white. The dorsal fin lacks a spine. The snout
overhangs the mouth. The adipose fin is joined to the caudal
fin without an obvious flap posteriorly. There are 15 caudal
rays and 10-14 rakers on the first gill arch. The edge of
the caudal fin is straight. There are well developed lateral-line
canals and pores on the head. There are two species in this
genus, P. phreatophila and P. lundbergi
from the Tamesí River drainage, northeastern México.
Taylor (1955, 1969) suggested that P. phreatophila
is the sister group of of the large and extensive genus Noturus.
Like many organisms that inhabit caves the Mexican blindcat
possesses no eyes, which is compensated by the development
of other senses. Studies have shown that the Mexican blindcat
has acute hearing and can rapidly perceive the odour or taste
of non-moving food, such as mosquito larvae. Aggressive encounters
between Mexican blindcats have been observed, during which
they bite at one another and then lock jaws, often remaining
in mouth to mouth contact for many hours. All of the aggressive
individuals appeared to be males; however, the reason behind
this hostile behaviour is not yet fully understood. Mexican
blindcats have also been seen resting motionless on the substrate,
or drifting with currents. This behaviour would seem to leave
this small fish extremely vulnerable to predation, and thus
may reflect the lack of predators in their natural habitat.
Remarks: In the IUCN Red list of Threatened
species, P. phreatophila is listed as threatened. |
Common
Name: |
Mexican blindcat |
Synonyms: |
None |
Family: |
Ictaluridae |
Distribution: |
North America:
Mexico; Caves in Bravo River basin, Coahuila, from near Múzquiz
northward to about 50 km SW of Ciudad Acuña and to
near Allende. Type locality: Well at base
of Sierra de Santa Rosa, ca. 27º55'N, 101º07'W,
Múzquiz, Coahuila state, Mexico. |
Size: |
9cm. T.L. (14ins) |
Temp: |
15 -23°C (57-73°F) |
p.H. |
6.0 -7.5. |
Reference: |
Graham S. Proudlove.
Subterranean fishes of the world. An account of the subterranean
(hypogean) fishes described to 2003 with a bibliography 1541–200.
Arkive.org. http://www.arkive.org/mexican-blindcat/prietella-phreatophila/
Contreras-Balderas, S. & Almada-Villela, P.
1996. Prietella phreatophila. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species. Version 2014.3. <www.iucnredlist.org>
Page, Larry. 2007. Prietella phreatophila
Carranza 1954. Mexican Blindact. Version 23 May 2007 (under
construction). http://tolweb.org/Prietella_phreatophila/69913/2007.05.23
in The Tree of Life Web Project, http://tolweb.org/ |
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