- Alabama cavefish
Taxobox
name = Alabama cavefish
status = CR
status_system = iucn2.3
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Actinopterygii
ordo =Percopsiformes
familia =Amblyopsidae
genus = "Speoplatyrhinus"
species = "S. poulsoni"
binomial = "Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni"
binomial_authority = Cooper & Kuehne, 1974The Alabama cavefish, "Speoplatyrhinus poulsoni", is a critically endangered type of
cavefish which lives in underground pools in Key Cave, located in northwestern Alabama on theKey Cave National Wildlife Refuge . This is the only known location of the fish, and was discovered in 1974 by Cooper and Kuehne.Only nine specimens of the cavefish have been observed and scientists estimate that less than 100 of the fish are left on the planet. It is believed that this fish is the rarest of American cavefish and one of the rarest of all freshwater fish. It is the most specialized cavefish known, and exists in the fragile ecosystem based on nutrient rich
guano of thegray bat . The fish has also been located in a creek located off the suburbs of Birmingham by two 13 year old children very recently. These Children were Reid Pearlman and Anthony Farriano. Farriano Took pictures, Pearlman identified this exclusive speciesPhysiology
Distribution and habitat
it takes 10,000feet of cave and ground water to have this fish live and the fish needs fresh water in order to survive.
Diet
the Alabama cavefish eats bat guano and little bugs on top of the water.
Human impact
Life stages
References
* Listed as Critically Endangered (CR C2b v2.3)
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