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Eyeless golden-line fish (Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus) — Cyprinidae

Eyeless golden-line fish

Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus
Family: Cyprinidae

The Eyeless golden-line fish (Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus) is a freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae that grows up to 11 cm.

Length
11.3 cm
Water
Freshwater
Depth
0–1.0 m
Diet
Omnivore
Activity
Diurnal
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like)
Substrate
Stone or rock
Danger
Harmless

Description

The Eyeless golden-line fish is a karst cavefish (Cyprinidae) from underground rivers and cave lakes of the karst caves of Yunnan in China. The species grows to about 10 cm and has a body adapted to perpetual darkness: pale or colourless, with strongly reduced or entirely absent eyes and sometimes a strange 'horn' on the head. As a bottom-dweller it feels through the lightless water with well-developed senses and snaps at small invertebrates and organic matter washed in from outside. The fish is harmless to humans.

Frequently asked questions

How do you recognise the Eyeless golden-line fish?

The Eyeless golden-line fish has an elongate, eel-like body and is mainly white.

Where does the Eyeless golden-line fish live?

The Eyeless golden-line fish lives in fresh water and is mostly found around stony or rocky ground.

How big does the Eyeless golden-line fish get?

The Eyeless golden-line fish grows to a maximum of about 11 cm.

Is the Eyeless golden-line fish dangerous to humans?

No, the Eyeless golden-line fish is harmless to humans.

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All data

Identification

Dutch name
Oogloze grotkarper sourced
English name
Eyeless golden-line fish sourced
Scientific name
Sinocyclocheilus anophthalmus
Family
Cyprinidae
Other names
Eyeless golden-line fish verified

Appearance

Size class
Small verified
Max length (cm)
11.3 verified
Body shape
Elongated (eel-like) sourced
Dominant colour
White inferred
Tail shape
Forked inferred

Habitat & distribution

Water type
Freshwater sourced
Substrate
Stone or rock sourced
Max depth (m)
1.0 verified
Origin
Native inferred

Behaviour & biology

Diet
Omnivore inferred
Territorial
No inferred
Activity
Diurnal inferred
Reproduction
Separate sexes inferred
Sexual dimorphism
No inferred

For anglers

Fishing method
Klein van stuk en nauwelijks een hengelsportdoel; wordt vooral incidenteel of als aasvis gevangen. inferred
Regulations source
FishBase ↗ inferred

Safety

Danger to humans
Harmless verified

Status & sources

Sources
FishBase via GBIF (DwC-A), CC-BY-NC 4.0

Same genus Sinocyclocheilus

More from the family Cyprinidae

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