Science
Scientists identify new eyeless cave fish species in Alabama military site
A newly described fish genus and species, discovered in a frequently monitored cave, evolved subterranean traits independently from its cohabiting neighbor.
The short version
- Researchers identified a new genus and species of eyeless cave fish, named Demogorgonichthys arcanus, in Alabama's Bobcat Cave.
- The fish was found in a restricted military installation during a routine wildlife survey in February 2025.
- Genetic testing indicates the newly discovered species and the existing Southern cave fish independently lost their vision through different evolutionary mutations.
Key facts
- Cave biologist Matthew L. Niemiller discovered the unknown fish after accidentally falling into a pool of water inside Bobcat Cave in February 2025.[Scientific American]
- The new species and genus has been formally designated as Demogorgonichthys arcanus and nicknamed the demon cave fish.[Scientific American]
- Genetic analyses revealed that D. arcanus is not closely related to the Southern cave fish inhabiting the same pools, indicating that both species adapted to the subterranean environment and lost vision through separate mutations.[Scientific American]
- Bobcat Cave, located within a restricted northern Alabama military facility, has undergone near-monthly monitoring surveys since the early 1990s because it is a habitat for the endangered Alabama cave shrimp.[Scientific American]
What remains uncertain
- The full extent of the new species' population size, range, and precise ecological interactions with the Southern cave fish remain to be established.[Scientific American]
Sources
- Newly discovered ‘demon cave fish’ hid out in Alabama military installation for 40 yearsScientific American metered