Subterranean Fishes of the World

4483

2019

Speleobiology Notes

28-37

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A key adaptation to survive in caves, an environment that has often been described as extreme and food-poor (Espinasa et al. 2017), is an enhanced ability to find food while in the darkness. Increased efficiency in food finding has been supported by five controlled observations or experiments in which cavefish directly outcompeted surface fish in their search for food (Hüppop 1987; Yoshizawa et al. 2010; Wilkens and Hüppop 1986; Espinasa et al. 2014; Hinaux et al. 2016). Features that could give this adaptive edge include a higher number of taste buds (Yamamoto et al. 2009; Varatharasan et al. 2009), higher chemosensory capabilities (Protas et al. 2008; Bibliowicz et al. 2013; Hinaux et al. 2016), an enhanced number of cranial neuromasts (Yoshizawa et al. 2012), modulation in early developmental signaling pathways influencing brain development and organization (Yamamoto et al. 2004; Pottin et al. 2011), and a behaviorally more efficient posture with respect to the substrate when bottom feeding (Schemmel 1980).

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