|
Uegitglanis zammaranoi
Gianferrari, 1923 |
| |
Common Name: None given.
Etymology: uegit (L)
after the type locality, a pool in Uegit, El Uegit, Somalia; glanis
(L) eponymous spirit of the Sacred springs in the town of Glanum in
Provence, then there was the Glanicae, a triad of local Mother Goddesses
associated with healing springs (all this makes reference to the fact that
the this fish was found in a pool associated with a spring); zammaranoi
(L) after the collector, V. T. Zammaranoi.
Major Synonyms:
History: The first specimens were collected by an Italian
army officer, V. T. Zammaranoi at an unspecified date. |
|
|
|
Morphological Characteristics:
Troglomorphic Characters:
It lacks optic nerves, chiasm, and has a reduced brain size, particularly
in the optic lobe and cerebellum (Bianchi 1975, Ercolini & Berti 1977).
The epidermis has cells that contain an alarm substance. It does not
present any specialization in olfactory structures (Bianchi et al. 1978).
Eye Condition:
No externally visible eyes.
Pigmentation: Depigmented.
Scales: Scaleless.
Swim (gas) bladder: |
|
|
|
Distribution:
Somalia: several localities in southern Somalia (see Ercolini et al. 1982
for distributional map) (ca. 3o 48'30" N, 43o 14'47"
E). |
|
|
| Habitat and
Ecology: Tolerates remarkable variations in salinity and chemicals in
the water. It reproduces between January and March, in the dry
season (Ercolini et al. op. cit.). |
|
Food and Feeding: |
| Reproduction and Development: |
|
Other Behaviors: Displays
aggressive behavior similar to epigean Siluriformes (Berti & Ercolini
1979). Studies on their responses to light have been inconclusive (Ercolni
& Berti op. cit.). |
|
Conservation
Status:
Major Threats: |
|
Conservation Plans: |
| Phylogenetic Relationships:
|
|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
|