| Range: |
Mexico |
| Habitat: |
Cave waters |
| Conservation Status: |
Not listed by IUCN |
| Scientific Name: |
Astyanax fasciatus mexicanus |
Dozens of fish species spend their lives in caves or underground springs, and most of them are blind. In this particular subspecies of Mexican cave fish, the animals' ability to see depends on where they live. Fish from populations that live entirely in isolated caves are totally blind. Those that lives in caves connected with a surface river have well-developed eyes.
Those that cannot see can still navigate easily through their environment. That's because cave fish have an extremely sensitive lateral line, the sense organ that detects vibrations and changes of pressure in the water. This sense allows the otherwise blind fish to detect obstacles and moving objects.
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