Rhamdia zongolicensis

Rhamdia zongolicensis (common name: Zongolica catfish) is a species of three-barbeled catfish endemic to Mexico.[2][3][4] Its specific name refers to Zongolica, the area in Veracruz state where it occurs. It is a cave fish similar to Rhamdia laticauda and Rhamdia reddelli,[4] and at times considered a junior synonym of the former.[3][4]

Rhamdia zongolicensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Actinopterygii
Order: Siluriformes
Family: Heptapteridae
Genus: Rhamdia
Species:
R. zongolicensis
Binomial name
Rhamdia zongolicensis
Wilkens, 1993

Habitat

Rhamdia zongolicensis is only known to occur in a single cave, Cueva del Túnel (Cueva del Ostoc), where it lives in stagnant pools.[5]

Description

Rhamdia zongolicensis grows to at least about 15 cm (5.9 in) standard length. It is related to the surface-dwelling Rhamdia laticauda, considered to be its sister species. Because the surface species is nocturnal, and thereby adapted to darkness, the cave species shows only few new adaptations: elongated barbels and extreme ability to withstand starvation (at least seven months under experimental conditions). It also shows reduced pigmentation and smaller eyes.[5]

Rhamdia zongolicensis is morphologically indistinguishable from Rhamdia reddelli. This is interpreted as resulting from convergent evolution.[5]

Rhamdia zongolicensis is only known from Zongolica in Veracruz, Mexico
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References
  1. World Conservation Monitoring Centre (1996). "Rhamdia zongolicensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 1996: e.T19456A8894338. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.1996.RLTS.T19456A8894338.en.
  2. Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2015). "Rhamdia zongolicensis" in FishBase. October 2015 version.
  3. Eschmeyer, W. N.; R. Fricke, eds. (4 January 2016). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  4. Romero, Aldemaro; Paulson, Kelly M. (2001). "It's a wonderful hypogean life: a guide to the troglomorphic fishes of the world". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 62 (1–3): 13–41. doi:10.1023/A:1011844404235.
  5. Wilkens, Horst (2001). "Convergent adaptations to cave life in the Rhamdia laticauda catfish group (Pimelodidae, Teleostei)". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 62 (1–3): 251–261. doi:10.1023/A:1011897805681.
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