Common Name
Mexican Cave Brotula
Year Described
Hubbs, 1938
Identification
Dorsal Fin: 75-87
Anal Fin: 59-68
Caudal Fin: 13-14
Pectoral Fin: 18-22
Vertebrae: 40-43
Gill Rakers: 5-7 (first arch)
Lateral Line:
Diagnosed by: anterior nostril close to upper lip; lower anterior gill arch with uninterrupted long rakers. 5-7 long gill rakers. Eyes not visible and sunken into head. Maxillary very large. Dentary with an inner row of fang-like teeth. Two pairs of pseudoclaspers with the inner pair free. Inner pseudoclasper about half the size of outer one. Two posterior infra-orbital pores and three lower preopercular pores. Upper preopercular pore absent. Opercular spine free. Pseudobranchial filaments absent. Abdomen scaled; rest of body naked. Head and cheeks naked (Møller et al., 2004).
Color
Translucent white to pale pink, with darker pink pigment around the vertebral column, the head, and visceral mass. Fins are translucent.
Size
Specimens range from 18-97mm SL.
Habitat
Found in freshwater limestone caves and sinkholes, up to 70m deep. Blind and associated with other cave fishes and crustaceans.
Range
The Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.
References
Møller, P. R., W. Schwarzhans & J. G. Nielsen. 2004. Review of the American Dinematichthyini (Teleostei: Bythitidae). Part I. Dinematichthys, Gunterichthys, Typhliasina and two new gerera. aqua, Journal of Ichthyology and Aquatic Biology v. 8 (no. 4): 141-192.
Other Notes
Included as this species is most related to marine forms of Bythitidae.