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Schistura oedipus (Kottelat,
1988) |
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Common Name: None given.
Etymology: schistura
(Gr) or skhizeîn to split; oura (Gr) tail, an allusion to forked
caudal fins; oedipus for Oedipus, a mythic Theban king who tore out
his eyes.
Major Synonyms: Nemacheilus oedipus
(original description).
History: The holotype and paratype were collected by J.
Dunkley on 7 May 1985. |
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Morphological Characteristics:
Troglomorphic Characters:
Eye Condition:
Variably microphthalmic.
Pigmentation: Variable from lightly pigmented to totally depigmented.
Some populations are entirely depigmented.
Scales: Scales embedded.
Swim (gas) bladder: |
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Distribution:
Thailand: Mae Hong Son Province: in several caves: Tham (Cave) Mae Lana, Tham Nam Lang (19o 31' N, 98o 09' E),
Tham Huet, Tham Ban Louk Kow Larm, and Tham Nong Pham Cham
(Kottelat 1990 and Trajano et al. 2002). |
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| Habitat and
Ecology: Mostly in slow moving waters (in contrast to the sometimes
syntopic Cryptotora thamicola) of these caves of a karstic endoreic basin.
Occasionally can be found climbing rapids (Trajano et al. 2002). It
may be preyed upon by a cave shrimp species of the genus Macrobrachium
sp. The population size in believed to be in the thousands and there
is probable migrations of individuals among at least some of the caves (Trajano
et al. 2002). |
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Food and Feeding: They feed
mostly on arthropods, particularly terrestrial insects common in the cave
and that fall onto the water (Trajano et al. 2002). |
| Reproduction and Development: |
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Other Behaviors: Most
individuals remain motionless on the bottom (20 - 100 cm) for long periods
of time. When swimming they do so near the surface. They may
be scotophilic and have some circadian rhythmicity. |
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Conservation
Status: Vulnerable.
Major Threats: |
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Conservation Plans: |
| Phylogenetic Relationships:
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