Conference Paper
Evolutionary insights and constraints from the nervous systems and behavior of cavefish
Soares, D.
Record Number:
5915
Year:
2022
Journal:
ARPHA Conference Abstracts
Volume:
5: e90267
Notes:
This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the CC0 Public Domain Dedication
Abstract:
Caves and other subterranean habitats represent one of the most challenging
environments on the planet. Bony fishes are one of the few vertebrate groups that
have successfully colonized and are completely restricted to those habitats. Despite being
known to science for over 150 years, only recently have cavefishes become model
systems for evolutionary studies pertaining the nervous system. Several cavefishes, such
as the Mexican characid Astyanax mexicanus, have provided valuable insights into how
fishes have evolved to cope with life in perpetual darkness. Here, I summarize the current
understanding of nonvisual sensory modalities and divergent social behavior in the
Mexican Astyanax mexicanus, the Brazilian Eigenmannia vicentespelea and the
Ecuadorian Astroblepus pholeter. Only future comparative studies nested within wellresolved
phylogenies will clarify the sensory adaptation of fishes to subterranean habitats.
Times Cited:
3