Missouri Department of Conservation
Missouri Department of Conservation

Taxonomy

Common Name: CAVEFISH, SALEM PLATEAU

Phylum: CHORDATA

Class: OSTEICHTHYES

Order: PERCOPSIFORMES

Family: AMBLYOPSIDAE

Genus: TYPHLICHTHYS

Species: EIGENMANNI

Taxonomic Authority: CHARLTON

Taxonomy References: 002 , 014

Status

NONGAME
STATE RANK S2S3
GLOBAL RANK G4

Status References: 003 , 010 , 013

Habitat Summary

"Inhabits underground water and cave streams with clear, cold water and bottoms of mud, silt or sand."

Primary Habitat: "Cave"

References: 001

Distribution

General Occurrence in State:

"Inhabits underground waters of central and southern Ozarks *001*."

County Occurance

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

References for distribution: 001 , 006 , 008 , 009 , 012

Distribution by Watersheds

Meramec R.
Osage R. from Warsaw to Bagnell Dam
Niangua R.
Gasconade R. from Headwaters to Big Piney R.
Black R.
Current R.
Warm Fork Spring R. and South Fork
Eleven Point R.

Comments: ""

Distribution by Ecoregions

Ozark Highlands

Comments: ""

Distribution by Potential Natural Vegetation

Bluestem Prairie/Oak Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory Forest
Oak-Hickory-Pine Forest

Distribution by Natural Divisions of Missouri

Ozark: Springfield Plateau
Ozark: Upper Ozark
Ozark: St. Francois Mountains
Ozark: White River
Ozark: Lower Ozark

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

Trichoptera (caddisflies); Larva stage
Diptera (flies, midges, mosquitos, gnats); Larva stage
Aquatic Insects; Not Specified
Crustaceans; Not Specified
Copepods (Cyclops, Calanus); Not Specified
Malacostraca (lobster, shrimp, crayfish, crabs); Not Specified
Insects Insects; Not Specified

Comments for Adult Food Habits:
""

References Adult Food Habits 007

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
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet

References for feeding juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 007

Resting Juvenile Niche Requirements

Water temperature specified in comments(00010)
Dissolved oxygen specified in comments(00020)
Ph/alkalinity specified in comments(00030)

References for resting juvenile niche requirements: 001 , 007

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
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet

References for feeding Adult niche requirements: 001 , 007

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
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet

References for feeding adult niche requirements: 001 , 007

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
Current velocity: no noticable current
Current velocity: slow current
Ground water
Inland wetlands: cave streams
Natural features: caves, wet

References for resting adult niche requirements: 001 , 007

Niche Requirement Summary

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

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *006*
007 Probably breed in spring *007*
012 Spawning site information unavailable
022 First spawn when 22-24 months old *007*
034 Food is a limiting factor *007*

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 at mid-water zone
Foraging sites: feed on bottom of stream, lake or pond
Breeding season specified in comments(007)
Spawning site specified in comments(012)
Age at sexual maturity specified in comments(022)

Comments about Life History:

Code Comment
004 Are planktivorous (but not filtering) *006*
007 Probably breed in spring *007*
012 Spawning site information unavailable
022 First spawn when 22-24 months old *007*
034 Food is a limiting factor *007*

References for life history: 001 , 007

Management

Beneficial Management Practices:

Protect caves from human disturbance
Water - protect natural hydrology to avoid lowering of the water table

Beneficial Management References: 006 , 012

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. 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. *012*

References for Management Comments: 012

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 Poulson, T.L. 1963. Cave Adaptation In Amblyopsid Fishes. Amer. Midl. Nat. 70(2):257-290.
008 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).
009 Unpb Missouri Department of Conservation Heritage Database. P.O. Box 180, Jefferson City, Mo 65102.
010 The Checklist Of Rare And Endangered Species Of Missouri. 1991. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Mo. 44pp.
011 Pflieger, W.L. 1989. Aquatic Community Classification System For Missouri. Mo Dept. Of Conservation. Aquatic Series No. 19. 70 Pp + Supplement.
012 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.
013 Missouri Natural Heritage Program. 2004. Missouri Species and Communities of Conservation Concern Checklist. Missouri Department Of Conservation. Jefferson City, Missouri. 47 Pp.
014 NIEMILLER, M.L., T.J. NEAR AND B.M. FITZPATRICK. 2012. DELIMITING SPECIES USING MULTILOCUS DATA: DIAGNOSING CRYPTIC DIVERSITY IN THE SOUTHERN CAVEFISH, TYPHLICHTHYS SUBTERRANEUS (TELEOSTEI: AMBLYOPSIDAE). EVOLUTION 66-3:846-866.