Rhamdia zongolicensis

Rhamdia zongolicensis
Conservation status
Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Actinopterygii
Order:	Siluriformes
Family:	Heptapteridae
Genus:	Rhamdia
Species:	R. zongolicensis
Binomial name
Rhamdia zongolicensis Wilkens, 1993

Rhamdia zongolicensis (common name: Zongolica catfish) is a species of three-barbeled catfish endemic to Mexico. ^{[2] [3] [4]} Its specific name refers to Zongolica, the area in Veracruz state where it occurs. It is a cave fish similar to Rhamdia laticauda and Rhamdia reddelli , ^[4] and at times considered a junior synonym of the former. ^{[3] [4]}

Habitat

Rhamdia zongolicensis is only known to occur in a single cave, Cueva del Túnel (Cueva del Ostoc), where it lives in stagnant pools. ^[5]

Description

Rhamdia zongolicensis grows to at least about 15 cm (5.9 in) standard length. It is related to the surface-dwelling Rhamdia laticauda , considered to be its sister species. Because the surface species is nocturnal, and thereby adapted to darkness, the cave species shows only few new adaptations: elongated barbels and extreme ability to withstand starvation (at least seven months under experimental conditions). It also shows reduced pigmentation and smaller eyes. ^[5]

Rhamdia zongolicensis is morphologically indistinguishable from Rhamdia reddelli . This is interpreted as resulting from convergent evolution. ^[5]

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Rhamdia zongolicensis is only known from Zongolica in Veracruz, Mexico

References

1. Arroyave, J.; Schmitter-Soto, J. (2019). "Rhamdia zongolicensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2019: e.T19456A2349993. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-2.RLTS.T19456A2349993.en . Retrieved 14 November 2021.
2. Froese, Rainer; Pauly, Daniel (eds.). "Rhamdia zongolicensis". FishBase . October 2015 version.
3. Eschmeyer, W. N.; R. Fricke, eds. (4 January 2016). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
4. Romero, Aldemaro; Paulson, Kelly M. (2001). "It's a wonderful hypogean life: a guide to the troglomorphic fishes of the world". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 62 (1–3): 13–41. Bibcode:2001EnvBF..62...13R. doi:10.1023/A:1011844404235. S2CID   34127843.
5. Wilkens, Horst (2001). "Convergent adaptations to cave life in the Rhamdia laticauda catfish group (Pimelodidae, Teleostei)". Environmental Biology of Fishes. 62 (1–3): 251–261. Bibcode:2001EnvBF..62..251W. doi:10.1023/A:1011897805681. S2CID   46381489.