Journal Article
The Mexican Blindcat Project: new discoveries and future efforts
Gluesenkamp, A. Hendrickson, D.A. and Sprouse, P.S.
Record Number:
4117
Year:
2018
Journal:
ARPHA Conference Abstracts
Volume:
1: e29391
Abstract:
The endangered Mexican blindcat (Prietella phreatophila, Carranza 1954) is one of only
four described stygobitic ictalurid catfish in North America. Members of two monotypic
genera (Satan eurystomus and Trogloglanis pattersoni) are known from the Edwards
Aquifer in Texas and, until recently, Prietella (represented by P. lundbergi and P.
phreatophila) was only known to occur in Mexico (northern Coahuila to southern
Tamaulipas). The recent discovery of P. phreatophila in a cave on the Amistad National
Recreation Area in Val Verde County, Texas is the result of decades of sporadic effort on
both sides of the US/Mexican border and has stimulated a renewed effort to investigate the
distribution, ecology, evolutionary history, and conservation status of this species.
Collaborative efforts among The San Antonio Zoo, The University of Texas at Austin, Zara
Environmental, and The National Park Service are currently focused on habitat surveys in
Texas as well as captive husbandry and propagation. Ongoing efforts with collaborators
from the Comisión Nacional de Áreas Naturales Protegidas, Área de Protección de
Recursos Naturales Sabinas and the Laboratorio de Genética para la Conservación,
Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste, La Paz include expanded fieldwork in
Mexico, hydrogeologic studies, and surveys using environmental DNA.
Times Cited:
3