Scientists discover new 'demon cavefish' in highly-studied Alabama cave

Key Points:

• Researchers from the University of Alabama in Huntsville discovered a new genus of eyeless, colorless, and faintly electric blue cavefish, named Demogorgonichthys arcanus or “demon cavefish,” in Bobcat Cave beneath the US Army’s Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
• The discovery is notable because the cave has been monitored quarterly for over 30 years, and the new species evolved independently from the Southern Cavefish found in the same pool, illustrating a vivid case of convergent evolution.
• The fish’s habitat is highly vulnerable due to contamination from trace metals like cadmium, chromium, and lead, likely originating from chemical weapon residues at the military base, despite the site’s restricted access protecting it from direct disturbance.
• The finding challenges assumptions about biodiversity in well-studied regions, with lead researcher Dr. Matthew Niemiller emphasizing that even familiar environments can still harbor unknown species.
• The study was published in Scientific Reports in July, in collaboration with researchers from multiple universities, highlighting ongoing efforts to explore and protect subterranean ecosystems.