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Danté Fenolio (3)

This cave dwelling Ancistrus is found together with the Characins, Astanax scabripinnis and Hoplerythrinus unitaeniatus. A. cryptophthalmus feeds on biofilms, not algae – interesting to consider in that there is no algae in a dark environment. This species has one of the hallmark characters of a subterranean fish, no eyes; however, it hasn’t lost its pigment. The species is endemic to a relatively small subterranean waterway in Brazil (Dante Fenolio 2020). Typical Ancistrus shape with both sexes sporting bristles to the head area with the male having the larger and more impressive tentacles. Remarks: The specific name of cryptophthalmus means hidden (kryptos=hidden) eyes (opthalmus=eyes) and refers to this cave species lack of eyes.

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Loricariidae

South America: São Vicente and Angélica-Bezerra Cave system in upper Paranã River, Tocantins River drainage, Brazil. Type locality: Caverna Passa Três (about 300 m into the cave), Rio São Vicente system, São Domingos, Goias, Brazil.

6.0cm. (2½ins)

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Fenolio, Dante. Pers comm. 2020.
Ferraris, C.J. Jr., 2007. Checklist of catfishes, recent and fossil (Osteichthyes: Siluriformes), and catalogue of siluriform primary types. Zootaxa 1418:1-628.
Froese, R. and D. Pauly. Editors. 2019. FishBase. World Wide Web electronic publication. www.fishbase.org, ( 12/2019 ).
Proudlove S. Graham. Subterranean fishes of the world. An account of the subterranean (hypogean) fishes described to 2003 with a bibliography 1541–200.
Proudlove, G.S., 1997. A synopsis of the hypogean fishes of the world. p. 351-354. In Proceedings of the 12th International Congress of Speleology, La Chaux de Fonds, Switzerland. vol. 3.