Ozark Cavefish
Encyclopedia
The Ozark cavefish, Amblyopsis rosae, is a small subterranean freshwater fish native to the United States
. It has been listed as a threatened species in the United States since 1984, the IUCN lists the species as vulnerable. While the Ozark cavefish is listed as threatened by the U.S. it is listed as endangered by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The Ozark cavefish is pinkish-white and reaches a maximum length of two inches (5 cm). The head is flattened, and it has a slightly protruding lower jaw. The fish has no pelvic fin; the dorsal
and anal fins are farther back than on most fish. The Ozark cave fish can receive nutrients without photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, by the tree roots above the cave. The Ozark cavefish has only rudimentary eyes and no optic nerve
. The Ozark cavefish lives only in caves. It has no pigmentation and a loss of unused characters. However, it is well adapted to a cave
environment through well-developed sensory papillae. They feed primarily on microscopic organisms, as well as small crustaceans and salamander
larvae. The reproductive rate of Ozark cavefish is low compared to most other fish.
Caves which have populations of the Ozark cavefish all have a relatively large source of nutrient
s, such as bat
guano
or blown leaf litter. Water quality in caves that contain cavefish is usually high. Ozark cavefish are able to tolerate the extremely low oxygen
content of ground water found in caves. Cavefish tend to occur in flowing cave streams as opposed to quiet pools. The ozark cave fish can receive nutrients with out photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, by the tree roots above the cave. The roots are full of nutrients and water. The roots are spreading photosynthesis the cave and organisms like Ozark cavefish and other species are able to feed off the roots.
The Ozark cavefish is native to the Springfield Plateau of the (Ozark Highlands
) (southwestern Missouri
), northwestern (Arkansas
), and northeastern (Oklahoma
). Currently, 15 caves in this area have verified cavefish populations. In Oklahoma, populations are known to occur in Delaware County, (Oklahoma Delaware County
). There are historical records for Ottawa and Mayes counties. Factors that have led to the decline of the Ozark cavefish include destruction of habitat, collecting of specimens, and disturbance by spelunkers.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It has been listed as a threatened species in the United States since 1984, the IUCN lists the species as vulnerable. While the Ozark cavefish is listed as threatened by the U.S. it is listed as endangered by the Missouri Department of Conservation.
The Ozark cavefish is pinkish-white and reaches a maximum length of two inches (5 cm). The head is flattened, and it has a slightly protruding lower jaw. The fish has no pelvic fin; the dorsal
Dorsal fin
A dorsal fin is a fin located on the backs of various unrelated marine and freshwater vertebrates, including most fishes, marine mammals , and the ichthyosaurs...
and anal fins are farther back than on most fish. The Ozark cave fish can receive nutrients without photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, by the tree roots above the cave. The Ozark cavefish has only rudimentary eyes and no optic nerve
Optic nerve
The optic nerve, also called cranial nerve 2, transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. Derived from the embryonic retinal ganglion cell, a diverticulum located in the diencephalon, the optic nerve doesn't regenerate after transection.-Anatomy:The optic nerve is the second of...
. The Ozark cavefish lives only in caves. It has no pigmentation and a loss of unused characters. However, it is well adapted to a cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
environment through well-developed sensory papillae. They feed primarily on microscopic organisms, as well as small crustaceans and salamander
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
larvae. The reproductive rate of Ozark cavefish is low compared to most other fish.
Caves which have populations of the Ozark cavefish all have a relatively large source of nutrient
Nutrient
A nutrient is a chemical that an organism needs to live and grow or a substance used in an organism's metabolism which must be taken in from its environment. They are used to build and repair tissues, regulate body processes and are converted to and used as energy...
s, such as bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
guano
Guano
Guano is the excrement of seabirds, cave dwelling bats, and seals. Guano manure is an effective fertilizer due to its high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen and also its lack of odor. It was an important source of nitrates for gunpowder...
or blown leaf litter. Water quality in caves that contain cavefish is usually high. Ozark cavefish are able to tolerate the extremely low oxygen
Oxygen
Oxygen is the element with atomic number 8 and represented by the symbol O. Its name derives from the Greek roots ὀξύς and -γενής , because at the time of naming, it was mistakenly thought that all acids required oxygen in their composition...
content of ground water found in caves. Cavefish tend to occur in flowing cave streams as opposed to quiet pools. The ozark cave fish can receive nutrients with out photosynthesis or chemosynthesis, by the tree roots above the cave. The roots are full of nutrients and water. The roots are spreading photosynthesis the cave and organisms like Ozark cavefish and other species are able to feed off the roots.
The Ozark cavefish is native to the Springfield Plateau of the (Ozark Highlands
Ozark Highlands Trail
The Ozark Highlands Trail roams through parts of seven counties in northwest Arkansas. It stretches from Lake Fort Smith State Park, across the Ozark National Forest, to the Buffalo National River. The trail passes through some of the most remote and scenic portions of the Ozark Mountains, like...
) (southwestern Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
), northwestern (Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
), and northeastern (Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
). Currently, 15 caves in this area have verified cavefish populations. In Oklahoma, populations are known to occur in Delaware County, (Oklahoma Delaware County
Delaware County, Oklahoma
Delaware County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oklahoma. As of 2000, the population was 37,077 and the newest population estimate is 45,000. Its county seat is Jay. The county was named for the Delaware Indians resettled in what was then Indian Territory in the 1830s. .Delaware County...
). There are historical records for Ottawa and Mayes counties. Factors that have led to the decline of the Ozark cavefish include destruction of habitat, collecting of specimens, and disturbance by spelunkers.
External links
- Endangered Species Guidesheet, Missouri Department of Conservation
- Ghost Fish of the Ozarks, by Tracy Crede