Population density and habitat of an endangered cave fish Eigenmannia vicentespelaea Triques, 1996 (Ostariophysi: Gymnotiformes) from a karst area in central Brazil

Abstract

The troglobitic electric fish Eigenmannia vicentespelaea, endemic to a single cave-system and included in the Brazilian Red List of Threatened Fauna, was studied in relation to population densities and habitat. For comparison, we used the epigean species, E. trilineata. We verify if the population densities recorded for E. vicentespelaea follow the pattern observed for other subterranean fishes; if there are seasonal fluctuations in these densities and which environmental variables explain the densities variat…