Typhleotris madagascariensis
| Typhleotris madagascariensis | |
|---|---|
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| Typhleotris madagascariensis in the Tsimanampetsotsa National Park | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Eleotridae |
| Genus: | Typhleotris |
| Species: | T. madagascariensis |
| Binomial name | |
| Typhleotris madagascariensis Petit, 1933 | |
Typhleotris madagascariensis is a species of sleeper goby that is endemic to Madagascar, where it is only known from underground waters in the southwestern portion of the island.[2] This cavefish is blind and lacks pigmentation, and can reach a standard length of 8 cm (3.1 in).[3]
This species is known from more than 10 caves and sinkholes in the Mahafaly Plateau region, in places where the water temperature typically ranges from 26 to 30 °C (79–86 °F) and the pH is slightly above neutral.[2] Although considered endangered because of its restricted range and not found to be common anywhere in its range in earlier studies,[1] recent surveys found that the species is locally abundant, occurring in especially high numbers in the Andranoilove, Andriamaniloke, Lalia and Mitoho caves.[2] In the southern part of its range, T. madagascariensis co-occurs with T. mararybe, which is not as common or widespread.[2] T. madagascariensis feeds on various invertebrates.[2][3]
Some of the limestone caves where this fish can be found are protected by the Tsimanampetsotsa National Park, including the Mitoho Grotto tourist site.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 Loiselle, P. & participants of the CBSG/ANGAP CAMP "Faune de Madagascar" workshop, Mantasoa, Madagascar 2001 2004. Typhleotris madagascariensis. In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 14 July 2013.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Rasoloariniaina; Ganzhorn; Riemann; and Raminosoa (2016). "Water quality and biotic interaction of two cavefish species: Typhleotris madagascariensis Petit, 1933 and Typhleotris mararybe Sparks & Chakrabarty, 2012, in the Mahafaly Plateau groundwater system, Madagascar". Subterranean Biology. 18: 1–16. doi:10.3897/subtbiol.18.8321.
- 1 2 Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Typhleotris madagascariensis" in FishBase. April 2013 version.