http://www.nsm.buffalo.edu/Research/SPE ... ile/78/100
Espinasa et al. wrote:Catfishes (order Siluriformes) are a diverse group of ray-finned fishes that also have the second most cave-restricted fish species in the world behind Cypriniformes (Bockmann and Castro 2010; Soares and Niemiller 2013). The abundance of catfishes in subterranean habitats has been explained by “their morphological/biological ‘preadaptations’, viz. their predominantly nocturnal activity (and related chemoorientation), cryptobiotic habits, and generalized carnivorous (or detritivorous) diet” (Bockmann and Castro 2010). Within Siluriformes, the family Ictaluridae has three genera (Prietella, Satan, and Trogloglanis) with at least four troglobitic species that lack externally visible eyes and are depigmented (Romero and Paulson 2001; Proudlove 2010). Multiple presumed troglophiles with a mosaic reduction of eyes and pigmentation have also been described (e.g., Bichuette and Trajano 2008; Reis et al. 2006; Secutti et al. 2011). We report here a new ictalurid catfish inhabiting a cave in southern Mexico, which, despite having eyes and pigmentation, can be classified as a troglophile or possibly even a troglobiont.
- Key Words: Ictalurus balsanus, catfish, frog, troglophile, troglobiont, stomach contents, Papagayo River, Balsas River, Guerrero, México.