Astyanax jordani

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Astyanax jordani
In the Suma Aqualife Park, Japan
Conservation status
Vulnerable (IUCN)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Actinopterygii Order: Characiformes Family: Characidae Genus: Astyanax Species: A. jordani
Binomial name
Astyanax jordani (Hubbs and Innes, 1936)

Astyanax jordani is a freshwater fish of the characin family (family Characidae) of order Characiformes, native to Mexico.^{[1] [2]}. It is called Cave Tetra (which is also used for the A. mexicanus subspecies mentioned above), or by its local Spanish name Sardina Ciega.

A blind cave fish, A. jordani is recently evolved from the Mexican tetra (A. mexicanus). While it can be confused with the blind cave form of A. mexicanus, it evolved separately from the surface form, and is considered a different species.^{[1] [2]} (IUCN, however, treats it as a subspecies of A. mexicanus.)^[3]

This characin is listed on the IUCN Red List as Vulnerable on the basis of shrinking population and an acutely-restricted and diminishing area of occupancy.^[3] It is fairly resilient, however, having a population doubling time of 15 months.^[1]

There are reports that it has been introduced to the Philippines.^[1]

Astyanax jordani was formerly classified as Anoptichthys jordani, the sole member of genus Anoptichthys. Anoptichthys hubbsi and Anoptichthys antrobius are junior synonyms.^[1]

Note that while this fish is often called "blind cave fish", that term normally refers more specifically to the blind cave form of A. mexicanus.

[edit] References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e} "Astyanax jordani". FishBase. Ed. Ranier Froese and Daniel Pauly. March 2006 version. N.p.: FishBase, 2006.
2. ^ ^{a b} Astyanax jordani (TSN 639371). Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Accessed on 1 July 2006.
3. ^ ^{a b} Contreras-Balderas, S., and P. Almada-Villela (1996). Astyanax mexicanus ssp. jordani. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved on 2006-07-01.