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| Schistura mobbsi Kottelat & Leisher 2012 |
Four fish species are known from inside Phuong Hoang cave in northern Vietnam. Pterocryptis crenula and Schistura cf. fasciolata are hypogean populations of epigean species. Cyprinus rubrofuscus individuals do not show morphological adaptations to the cave environment. Schistura mobbsi, new species, is characterized by the loss of the eyes, pigmentation and lateral line, reduced number of fin rays, large nostrils displaced forward on snout, and scales not overlapping and restricted to posterior part of flank, becoming very sparsely set anteriorly
Type locality: Vietnam, Thai Nguyen Prov., Phuong Hoang Cave, Bac Song (Lang Song Prov.), probably draining to Cau River, draining to Hai Phong, 21°46'31"N, 106°07'10"E.
Etymology: Named for the discoverer of the Phuong Hoang cave system, Jerry Mobbs.
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| Schistura mobbsi has no eyes, no pigmentation and a limited ability to sense motion. |
Discovery: New Cave Fish Species Sees “Light of Day”
Kottelat, M. & Leisher, C.. 2012. Fishes from Phuong Hoang cave, northern Vietnam, with description of a new species of loach (Teleostei: Nemacheilidae). Ichthyological Exploration of Freshwaters. 23 (3): 237-244.
