Completely blind, this hardy fish thrives in the dark environment of caves.
However, its range is restricted to about a dozen cave streams in southern
Indiana and north- central Kentucky. Because of this restricted habitat,
the Northern Cavefish is listed as a state- endangered species. The cavefish
lacks pigmentation and its pinkish color is due to the hemoglobin in its
blood.
The Northern Cavefish received a great deal of press when State Road 37 was widened to four lanes between Bedford and Mitchell, Indiana. Several fish were found in a passage opened by construction, and were released in nearby Bluespring Caverns. The alarm that went through the environmental community eventually resulted in a Memorandum of Understanding between the Indiana Dept of Transportation and several other state agencies to help ensure that future road work is performed in a more karst- friendly manner. New measures were implemented to protect the habitat and the road corridor is now posted as a low-salt/no-spray zone. The IKC received awards from both the Hoosier Environmental Council and the NSS in recognition of the part they played in this situation.
Photo courtesy Drs T Poulson and B Berry / University of Illinois at Chicago.