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A Cavefish Was Hiding in Plain Sight
An eyeless, colorless Alabama cavefish has been described as a new genus and species.
Summary
An eyeless, colorless Alabama cavefish has been described as a new genus and species.
University of Alabama in Huntsville researchers described Demogorgonichthys arcanus from Bobcat Cave beneath Redstone Arsenal in north Alabama. The fish lacks eyes and pigment and can show a faint electric-blue appearance, adaptations consistent with permanent cave life. Naming a new genus sharpens the region's biodiversity record, while its restricted habitat also makes the population vulnerable to changes in groundwater and cave conditions.
Why it matters
An eyeless, colorless Alabama cavefish has been described as a new genus and species.
Limits and context
No additional limitation was separately recorded.
Key claims
An eyeless, colorless Alabama cavefish has been described as a new genus and species.
Evidence: source-2026-07-29-007
Sources
- University of Alabama in Huntsville via Newswise: New demon cavefish genusUniversity of Alabama in Huntsville via Newswise · official announcement
Corrections
No corrections have been recorded for this story.