Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: CAVEFISH, OZARK

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCOPSIFORMES

Family: AMBLYOPSIDAE

Genus: TROGLICHTHYS

Species: ROSAE

Taxonomic Authority: (EIGENMANN)

Taxonomy References: 002 , 014 , 017

Status

FEDERAL THREATENED
NONGAME
STATE ENDANGERED
STATE RANK S2
GLOBAL RANK G3

Status References: 003 , 007 , 010 , 016

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits cave streams and spring outlets with clear, cold water and (most often) rubble bottom."

Primary Habitat: "Cave"

References: 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Occurs in the Ozark region of southwest Missouri *001*."

County Occurance

County Occurence
Known Likely Unknown Not Likely Historic Extirpated
BARRY CHRISTIAN ADAIR
GREENE DADE ANDREW
JASPER MCDONALD ATCHISON
LAWRENCE AUDRAIN
NEWTON BARTON
STONE BATES
BENTON
BOLLINGER
BOONE
BUCHANAN
BUTLER
CALDWELL
CALLAWAY
CAMDEN
CAPE GIRARDEAU
CARROLL
CARTER
CASS
CEDAR
CHARITON
CLARK
CLAY
CLINTON
COLE
COOPER
CRAWFORD
DALLAS
DAVIESS
DEKALB
DENT
DOUGLAS
DUNKLIN
FRANKLIN
GASCONADE
GENTRY
GRUNDY
HARRISON
HENRY
HICKORY
HOLT
HOWARD
HOWELL
IRON
JACKSON
JEFFERSON
JOHNSON
KNOX
LACLEDE
LAFAYETTE
LEWIS
LINCOLN
LINN
LIVINGSTON
MACON
MADISON
MARIES
MARION
MERCER
MILLER
MISSISSIPPI
MONITEAU
MONROE
MONTGOMERY
MORGAN
NEW MADRID
NODAWAY
OREGON
OSAGE
OZARK
PEMISCOT
PERRY
PETTIS
PHELPS
PIKE
PLATTE
POLK
PULASKI
PUTNAM
RALLS
RANDOLPH
RAY
REYNOLDS
RIPLEY
SALINE
SCHUYLER
SCOTLAND
SCOTT
SHANNON
SHELBY
ST. CHARLES
ST. CLAIR
ST. FRANCOIS
ST. LOUIS
STE. GENEVIEVE
STODDARD
SULLIVAN
TANEY
TEXAS
VERNON
WARREN
WASHINGTON
WAYNE
WEBSTER
WORTH
WRIGHT

References for distribution: 001 , 006 , 009 , 010 , 012 , 014 , 015

Distribution by Watersheds

Sac R.
James R.
Spring R.
Indian Creek

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: Elk River
Ozark: White River

Habitat Associations

Species is associated with "Aquatic" habitats.

National Wetlands Inventory Association:

Aquatic Associations:

"See Comments"

References for Aquatic Associations: 001

Habitat Types:

Permanent Stream

References for Habitat Types: 004

Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Caves
Effluent Cave
Influent Cave
Wet Pit Cave

References for Terrestrial Natural Communities:

Food Habits

Trophic Level:

"Carnivore"

Larval Food Habits

Comments for larval food habits:
""

References for larval food habits:

Juvenile Food Habits

Comments for Juvenile Food Habits:
""

References Juvenile Food Habits

Adult Food Habits

Caudata (salamanders, newts, mudpuppies, sirens); Larva stage
Amphibians; Not Specified
Crustaceans; Not Specified
Copepods (Cyclops, Calanus); Not Specified
Malacostraca (lobster, shrimp, crayfish, crabs); Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 008

Niche Requirements

Egg Niche Requirements

References for egg niches requirements:

Feeding Larvae Niche Requirements

References for feeding larvae niche requirements:

Resting Larvae Niche Requirements

References for resting Larvae niche requirements:

Feeding Juvenile Niche Requirements

Water temperature: cold water: less than 21 c (70 f)
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Ph/alkalinity specified in comments(00030)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Seeps/springs
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Human association specified in comments(00690)

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 008

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Ph/alkalinity specified in comments(00030)
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Human association specified in comments(00690)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 008

Breeding Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature: cold water: less than 21 c (70 f)
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Ph/alkalinity specified in comments(00030)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Seeps/springs
Inland wetlands: spring outlet
Inland wetlands: spring pool
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Human association specified in comments(00690)

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 008

Feeding Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature: cold water: less than 21 c (70 f)
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Ph/alkalinity specified in comments(00030)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Seeps/springs
Inland wetlands: spring outlet
Inland wetlands: spring pool
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Human association specified in comments(00690)

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 008

Resting Adult Niche Requirements

Water temperature: cold water: less than 21 c (70 f)
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Ph/alkalinity specified in comments(00030)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: sand
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Seeps/springs
Inland wetlands: spring outlet
Inland wetlands: spring pool
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Human association specified in comments(00690)

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 008

Niche Requirement Summary

Bottom type specified in comments(00100)
Bottom type: mud or silt
Bottom type: rubble
Bottom type: sand
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Ground water
Human association specified in comments(00690)
Inland wetlands specified in comments(00250)
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Inland wetlands: spring outlet
Inland wetlands: spring pool
Natural features specified in comments(00280)
Natural features: caves, wet
Ph/alkalinity specified in comments(00030)
Seeps/springs
Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Water temperature: cold water: less than 21 c (70 f)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
005 Feeds under rocks *008*
034 Food is a limiting factor *008*
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *006*
012 Spawning site information unavailable
022 First spawn when 36-48 months old *008*

Life History Information

Limiting factors specified in comments(034)
Origin in state: native
Seasonal distribution in state: all seasons
Foraging strategy specified in comments(004)
Foraging sites: water
Foraging sites: feed on bottom of stream, lake or pond
Foraging sites specified in comments(005)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
005 Feeds under rocks *008*
034 Food is a limiting factor *008*
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *006*
012 Spawning site information unavailable
022 First spawn when 36-48 months old *008*

References for life history: 001 , 006 , 008

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Protect caves from human disturbance
Water - control pollution (thermal, physical, chemical)
Water - protect natural hydrology to avoid lowering of the water table

Beneficial Management References: 006 , 014

Adverse Managment Practices:

Adverse Management References:

Comments on Management:
A MO study recommends independent management of the following zones to maintain species integrity: middle arkansas river drainage, White River drainage, Osage River drainage, eleven point/Current R. Drainage. Suggests two subspecies may exist - a. Rosae whitae (White River drainage) and a. Rosae arkansasus (middle arkansas river drainage) and recommends the divide between the white and middle arkansas drainages not be disturbed. Other recommendations: 1) avoid transplant of cavefish between zones, 2) avoid fragmentation of populations within zones, 3) maintain dispersal barriers between zones. River channelization and road construction should be confined to between-zone areas, dam building between zones should be avoided, 4) water table reduction may be detrimental. *014*

References for Management Comments: 014

References

Reference Code Citation
001 Pflieger, W.L. 1997. The Fishes Of Missouri, Revised Edition. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 372 Pp.
002 Nelson, Joseph S., Edwin J. Crossman, Héctor Espinosa-Pérez, Lloyd T. Findley, Carter R. Gilbert, Robert N. Lea, and James D. Williams. 2004. Common And Scientific Names Of Fishes From The United States, Canada and Mexico (6th Ed.). Amer. Fish Soc. Spec.
003 The Wildlife Code of Missouri. Missouri Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, MO 65102. 573-751-4115.
004 Kelly, G. (Ed.) 1986. Animal Habitat Relations Handbook. Mo Dept. Of Conservation and U.S.D.A. Forest Service. Jefferson City, Mo. 293 Pp.
005 Thom, R.H. and J.H. Wilson. 1980 The Natural Divisions Of Missouri. Trans. Mo Acad. Sci. 14:9-24.
006 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
007 Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44 Pp.
008 Poulson, T.L. 1963. Cave Adaptation In Amblyopsid Fishes. Amer. Midl. Nat. 70(2):257-290.
009 Unpb Pflieger, W.L. The Stream Resources Of Missouri. D-J Project F-1-R-28. Study S-20. Mo Dept. Of Conservation, 1110 S. College Ave., Columbia, Mo 65201. (573-882-9880).
010 U.S. Dept. Of The Interior. 1984. Endangered And Threatened Wildlife And Plants. Determination Of Threatened Status For The Ozark Cavefish (Amblyopsis Rosae). Federal Register 49(77):43965-43969.
011 Unpb Popowski, J. Memo To Fish and Wildl. Serv. Field Supervisor, Columbia, Mo (Dated 8/16/85), Concerning Revised County Listing Of Federally Listed Species Within Missouri.
012 Willis, L.D. and A.V. Brown. 1985. Distribution And Habitat Requirements Of The Ozark Cavefish, Amblyopsis Rosae. Amer. Midl. Nat. 114:311-317.
013 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
014 Bergstrom, D.E., Jr., D.B. Noltie and T.P. Holtsford. 1995. Ozark Cavefish Genetics: The Phylogeny Of Missouri's Ozark Cavefish (Amblyopsis Rosae) And Southern Cavefish (Typhlichthys Subterraneus). Mo Dept. Of Conservation Final Report. End. Species Proj. Se-01-27. 42 Pp.
015 Missouri Dept. Of Conservation Channels Newsletter, July/August 1997. Jefferson City, Mo.
016 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2007. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. MO Dept. of Conservation. Jefferson City, MO. 51 pp.
017 UNPB NIEMILLER, M.L. 2011. EVOLUTION, SPECIATION, AND CONSERVATION OF AMBLYOPSID CAVEFISHES. PH.D. DISSERTATION, UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE, KNOXVILLE. PP. 209.