Caecogobius cryptophthalmus n. gen. n. sp. (gobiidae gobiinae), the first stygobic fish from philippines

Abstract

The gobiine fish Caecogobius cryptophthalmus n. gen. n. sp., from a cave system on Samar Island, is described and its affinities with other gobiine genera discussed. The new species shows a high degree of adaptation to the hypogean habitat and is both the first blind hypogean fish known for the Philippine Archipelago and the only known blind cave gobiine. The variability of some morphological features related to the process of regressive evolution is described, and one of its possible causes is briefly explored. © 1991 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.