Additional info on Rhizosomichthys totae?

[Mike_Noren]

Have anyone got any additional info on this amazing creature:

Rhizosomichthys totae

?

E.g., did it really look like that while alive? Why did it go extinct?

[MatsP]

It apparently looks like that alive, yes. I was there when Jools got the pictures (arrived when we were at the CSG conference).

Seeing as it was captured at 3000m(!!!???) depth, it wouldn't surprise me if they are fairly hard to find, so extinction may just be "no evidence of" - but I have no idea really.

--
Mats

[MatsP]

having had a lookup of Lago de Tota (type location), it seems like the depth information on the species is incorrect - it probably should say "30-60m" or some such - the max depth of the lake is 60m.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Tota

--
Mats

[Martin S]

Is it really only 5.4"? The holotype, from the photo, looks much larger. Or is it just the way the photo is taken?
Martin

[sidguppy]

it went extinct due to introduction of Rainbow trout in the lake

almost all endemic fishlife vanished from the lake after that, not just this fish.

also; the lake suffers from severe drainage for agriculture and humancaused seismic activities around it.

as of now any endemic fish from that lake is listed as extinct.

just another example of Lake Victoria like disasters caused by industrial age man.

[Mike_Noren]

it went extinct due to introduction of Rainbow trout in the lake
also; the lake suffers from severe drainage for agriculture and humancaused seismic activities around it.

That's truly sad, it was such a bizarre creature too.

I found some interesting info:
http://www.conservation.org/warfare/Pages/harrison.aspx
Don't miss the "mini-documentary", very interesting stuff.