Kingdom Animalia Scientific name Typhliasina pearsei Higher classification Ogilbia Order Ophidiiformes | Family Bythitidae Phylum Chordata Rank Species | |
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Genus Typhliasina
Whitley, 1951 Similar Ogilbia, Blind swamp eel, Brotula, Ophisternon, Ophidiiformes | ||
The Mexican blind brotula, Typhliasina pearsei, is a species of viviparous brotula endemic to Mexico, where it is found in sinkholes and caves. it is known as sak kay in Mayan and dama blanca ciega in Spanish. This cavefish grows to a standard length of 9.5 cm (3.7 in). It is the only known member of its genus.
Contents
Description
The Mexican blind brotula has a large, laterally compressed, scaleless head with no eyes, but several papillae and cavities which contain sensory organs. The nostrils are located on the upper lip and the mouth has a longitudinal split at the back. The body bears scales and has long dorsal and anal fins which terminate close to, but are separate from, the caudal fin. The dorsal fin has no spines and 75 to 87 soft rays, and the anal fin has no spines and 59 to 68 soft rays. The male has two pairs of pseudoclaspers, the inner ones being in front of the outer ones. The standard length is about 95 mm (3.7 in). The skin does not contain pigment, making the fish appear white, with pink margins near the tail.
Distribution
The Mexican blind brotula inhabits the cenotes (water-filled sink holes) and aquifers in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico, where the temperature is between 23 and 27 °C (73 and 81 °F) throughout the year.
Ecology
The Mexican blind brotula is the top predator in the Yucatán aquifer system and is probably not very numerous. It feeds on crustaceans such as shrimps and mysids that also inhabit the aquifers. In some locations, it is associated with another blind fish, the blind swamp eel (Ophisternon infernale) and in one cave system, with the catfish Rhamdia guatemalensis. It does not react to light, but is very sensitive to vibrations. It is a viviparous fish, giving birth to up to a dozen young between December and February. The newborns are yellowish and about 24 to 37 mm (0.9 to 1.5 in) in length.
Status
The main threat faced by this fish is from water pollution; the aquifers in which it lives are below inhabited areas with inadequate sanitary arrangements, so that coliform bacteria may leak in, and excess nitrates may be in wastewater. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has rated the conservation status of this fish as being "vulnerable".