Cavefish

Cavefish or cave fish is a generic term for fresh and brackish water fish adapted to life in caves and other underground habitats. Related terms are subterranean fish, troglomorphic fish, troglobitic fish, stygobitic fish, phreatic fish, and hypogean fish.

There are more than 200 scientifically described species of obligate cavefish found on all continents, except Antarctica. Although widespread as a group, many species have very small ranges and are threatened.

Cavefish are members of a wide range of families and do not form a monophyletic group. Typical adaptations include reduced eyes and depigmentation.

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