Demon Cavefish
Demogorgonichthys arcanus Niemiller, Hart & Armbruster, 2026
Taxonomy
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Subphylum | Vertebrata |
| Class | Actinopterygii |
| Order | Percopsiformes |
| Family | Amblyopsidae |
| Genus | Demogorgonichthys |
| Species | Demogorgonichthys arcanus Niemiller, Hart & Armbruster, 2026 |
Description
Diagnostic characters
- Ecological class
- Stygobiont
- Realm
- Aquatic
- Eyes
- Absent
- Pigment
- Absent
- Troglomorphy
- Troglomorphic
Morphological description
Body size
Type series
Similar species
Similar species
Distribution
Type locality
Bobcat Cave, Redstone Arsenal, Madison Co., Alabama
Range
Known from one county in Alabama in the Appalachians karst region.
Continent
North America
Country
United States
States and provinces
Alabama
Counties
- Alabama
- Madison
Karst regions
Appalachians
Habitat
- Aquatic habitat
- Cave pool, Cave lake
- Cave zone
- Deep cave
Ecology and life history
Reproduction
Development
Diet
Predators
Population ecology
Community associates
Diseases and parasites
Behavior
Genetics
Phylogenetics
Population genetics
Genetic resources
Conservation and management
State and federal status
Not listed under the U.S. Endangered Species Act
References
- Niemiller, M.L., Armbruster, J.W., Sandel, M.W., Maxwell, E.C., Bierstein, O.M., Anderson, C.L., Schaefer, J., Quering, C.I., Hinkle, A., Candeias, M., Niemiller, K.D.K. & Hart, P.B. 2026. Surprising cryptic cavefish diversity in a long-studied karst cave ecosystem of northern Alabama. Scientific Reports 16: 20765. doi:10.1038/s41598-026-54315-4
How to cite this account
Demogorgonichthys arcanus Niemiller, Hart & Armbruster, 2026. Cave Biology Data Portal, account SP-1448. https://cavebiology.org/species/demogorgonichthys-arcanus/ (accessed 5 September 2026).
Data sources and funding are listed in the Acknowledgments.
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