Kingdom Animalia Family Cyprinidae Phylum Chordata Order Cypriniformes | Class Actinopterygii Scientific name Caecobarbus geertsi Rank Species | |
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Genus Caecobarbus
Boulenger, 1921 People also search for Coptostomabarbus, Caecocypris | ||
Caecobarbus geertsi (African blind barb or Congo blind barb), locally known as barbu aveugle or poisson cavernicole d'Afrique, is a ray-finned fish species in the family Cyprinidae. It is the only member of the monotypic genus Caecobarbus. It is George Albert Boulenger who made the discovery of this fish in 1921.
It is found only in Thysville Caves in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Like other cavefish, it has no externally visible eyes and reduced pigmentation. Its maximum length is 110 mm (4.3 in). They may live as long as 15 years.
It is threatened by sedimentation. Its trade as aquarium novelty is also a possible threat.
References
Caecobarbus geertsii Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA