Lamprologus lethops
| Lamprologus lethops | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Actinopterygii |
| Order: | Perciformes |
| Family: | Cichlidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudocrenilabrinae |
| Tribe: | Lamprologini |
| Genus: | Lamprologus |
| Species: | L. lethops |
| Binomial name | |
| Lamprologus lethops T. R. Roberts & D. J. Stewart, 1976 | |
Lamprologus lethops is a species of cichlid fish from areas with fast current in the Congo River in Central Africa, where it is believed to live in depths as great as 160 metres (520 ft) below the surface.[2] It reaches about 10 centimetres (3.9 in) in length, is all whitish (non-pigmented) and blind.[3] Living L. lethops were seen for the first time in 2011 when Lucanus collected a few floating on the surface, dying from the bends, where he released the enlarged airbladder via a syringe. Some survived this process, while many perished. Yet this was the basis for a few being brought into captivity. They have subsequently been kept in aquaria.[4]
Among other fish species with similar adaptations (blind and non-pigmented) found in similar habitats in the Congo River are a clariid catfish (Gymnallabes nops), a mochokid catfish (Chiloglanis sp.) and two spiny eels (Mastacembelus brichardi and M. crassus)[5][6][7]
References
- ↑ Moelants, T. 2010. Lamprologus lethops. In: IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.2. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 22 April 2013.
- ↑ Norlander, Britt (April 20, 2009). Rough waters: one of the world's most turbulent rivers is home to a wide array of fish species. Now, large dams are threatening their future. Science World
- ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2013). "Lamprologus lethops" in FishBase. February 2013 version.
- ↑ Lucanus, Oliver (2013). First Notes on the Husbandry of the Blind Cichlid Lamprologus lethops from the Congo River. Cichlid News, vol 22(1): 6-11
- ↑ Lucanus, Oliver (17 May 2012). The Mexican Blind Cave Fish Isn't the Only Troglodytic Fish Available to Fishkeepers. Retrieved 28 May 2014.
- ↑ Froese, Rainer and Pauly, Daniel, eds. (2014). "Mastacembelus brichardi" in FishBase. May 2014 version.
- ↑ PlanetCatfish: Gymnallabes nops. Retrieved 28 May 2014.