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| Typhleotris | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Eleotridae |
| Genus: | Typhleotris |
| Species: | T. mararybe |
| Binomial name | |
| Typhleotris mararybe John S. Sparks and Prosanta Chakrabarty | |
Typhleotris mararybe is a species of troglobitic sleeper goby endemic to caves in Madagascar.> It is unique among cave-dwelling fish in that is both blind and darkly pigmented. It has a well-developed sensory system and will dive to avoid approaching objects. The fish was first discovered in 2012.
Description
Typhleotris mararybe is a small fish, measuring approximately 38 millimetres (1.5 in) in length. Its entire body is dark brown in color. Its fins are mostly white (lacking in pigment) with brown bases. T. mararybe has a well-developed sensory system, using a series of pores on its head to "see" its way around in the dark caves in inhabits. The fish does not have any eyes. It is the only cave fish that is both blind and darkly pigmented.
Typhleotris mararybe is relatively slow moving, although more responsive to approaching objects than the closely related Typhleotris madagascariensis. It will dive in an attempt to escape approaching objects. It can be distinguished from other members of Typhleotris by its dark pigmentation as well as its bone structure. T. mararybe is possibly the sister species of T. madagascariensis, as the two share characteristics in common that Typhleotris pauliani, the only other member of the genus found in Madagascar, does not.
Habitat
Typhleotris mararybe is one of four cave-dwelling fishes of Madagascar. It is known from a single cave, the Grotte de Vitane sinkhole where a couple specimens were captured near the surface. It is likely endangered, but has not been officially classified by IUCN as of August 2013.
Discovery and taxonomic evaluation
Typhleotris mararybe was described by John S. Sparks and Prosanta Chakrabarty in the December 2012 issue of American Museum Novitate, a publication of the American Museum of Natural History. It was described based on two specimens that were collected at Grotte de Vitane near Itampolo, in south-western Madagascar. Although locals sometimes climb into the water, they were unaware of T. mararybe before the western expedition found it. The specific name derives from a combination of two Malagasy words – marary, meaning "ill", and be, meaning "big". The name was chosen to commemorate the members of the field team who collected the initial T. mararybe specimens and became seriously ill in the process.
Sparks and Chakrabarty argue that T. mararybe evolved from an ancestral species that lacked pigmentation and was blind. They hypothesize that the pigmentation of the species was secondarily regained to aid in camouflage as portions of Grotte de Vitane experience direct sunlight.
References
- ^ Sparks, John S.; Chakrabarty, Prosanta (2012). "Revision of the endemic Malagasy cavefish genus Typhleotris (Teleostei: Gobiiformes: Milyeringidae), with discussion of its phylogenetic placement and description of a new species". American Museum Novitates. 3764: 1–28. doi:10.1206/3764.2.
{{cite journal}}:|access-date=requires|url=(help) - ^ Quentin Wheeler (August 3, 2013). "New to nature no 111: Typhleotris mararybe". The Guardian. Retrieved August 9, 2013.