Rhamdia zongolicensis

Species of fish

Rhamdia zongolicensis
Conservation status

Vulnerable  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification Edit this 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]

Zongolica in Veracruz, Mexico.
Zongolica in Veracruz, Mexico.
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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. ^ a b Eschmeyer, W. N.; R. Fricke, eds. (4 January 2016). "Catalog of Fishes". California Academy of Sciences. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  4. ^ a b c 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. doi:10.1023/A:1011844404235. S2CID 34127843.
  5. ^ a b c 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. doi:10.1023/A:1011897805681. S2CID 46381489.
Taxon identifiers
Rhamdia zongolicensis
  • Wikidata: Q5463580
  • CoL: 4RZQP
  • EoL: 222551
  • FishBase: 62489
  • GBIF: 2343677
  • iNaturalist: 111625
  • IRMNG: 11291939
  • ITIS: 681478
  • IUCN: 19456
  • NCBI: 2803176
  • Open Tree of Life: 3622031
  • Plazi: 7C8921D2-F523-C47D-75B6-60D02982E70B
  • WoRMS: 1010987
  • ZooBank: 9E20516C-DBC8-4CF5-85F3-A0E682DDF2E5