The Hoosier cavefish,a new and endangered species (Amblyopsidae,Amblyopsis) from the caves of southern Indiana |
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Authors: | Prosanta Chakrabarty Jacques A. Prejean Matthew L. Niemiller |
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Affiliation: | 1.Museum of Natural Science, Ichthyology Section, 119 Foster Hall, Department of Biological Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA ;2.University of Kentucky, Department of Biology, 200 Thomas Hunt Morgan Building, Lexington, KY 40506, USA |
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Abstract: | ![]() We describe a new species of amblyopsid cavefish (Percopsiformes: Amblyopsidae) in the genus Amblyopsis from subterranean habitats of southern Indiana, USA. The Hoosier Cavefish, Amblyopsis hoosierisp. n., is distinguished from A. spelaea, its only congener, based on genetic, geographic, and morphological evidence. Several morphological features distinguish the new species, including a much plumper, Bibendum-like wrinkled body with rounded fins, and the absence of a premature stop codon in the gene rhodopsin. This is the first new cavefish species described from the United States in 40 years and exemplifies how molecular data can alert us to the presence of otherwise cryptic biodiversity. |
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Keywords: | Cryptic diversity GenSeq new species subterranean taxonomy |
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