Animalia Life

Forbesichthys agassizii
FAMILY
Amblyopsidae
TAXONOMY
This species originally was described under two names: Chologaster agassizii and Forbesella agassizi Putnam, 1872, a well in Lebanon, Wilson County, Tennessee, United States. The genus Forbesichthys was eventually adopted since Forbesella was already in use for marine animals known as tunicates.
OTHER COMMON NAMES
None known.
PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
Grows to 3.54 in (9.0 cm). This species is dark brown to nearly black on the dorsum, grading to lighter brown laterally; it is cream yellow ventrally, often with a thin yellow stripe along each side. These fish have minute scales embedded under the skin. They lack pelvic fins and have triads of sensory papillae midlaterally and scattered clusters called neuromasts on the head.
DISTRIBUTION
Found in central and western Kentucky (west to the Tennessee River) to southern central Tennessee and west across southern Illinois to southeastern Missouri. When the Mississippi River changed its course, the Missouri population may have been isolated from the others for about 2,000 years. It was intentionally stocked from southern Illinois sites to establish a population near Quincy College. This population was intended to serve as a nearby source of fish for research.
HABITAT
Individuals of this species are active in springs at night, almost always near the surface; they usually retreat underground during the day.
BEHAVIOR
The few individuals that venture into the spring portions of their habitats may have a strong tendency to move against the current (rheotaxist) for periods of half a minute to one minute, but they typically show strong thigmotaxis and hide under rocks or debris. They prefer highly oxygenated over less oxygenated water but respond to light by moving away (scotophilia). They tolerate a wide range of temperatures.
FEEDING ECOLOGY AND DIET
They feed at night on amphipods, midge larvae, tiny worms, and microcrustaceans.
REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY
Spawning takes place in February. The life span is about three years.
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not listed by the IUCN.
SIGNIFICANCE TO HUMANS
It has no particular significance except for its ecological and scientific value in researching the process of cave colonization.

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