Advantages of Living in the Dark: Multiple Evolution Events of 'Blind' Cavefish

[HarleyK]

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120122201209.htm

The blind Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) have not only lost their sight but have adapted to perpetual darkness by also losing their pigment (albinism) and having altered sleep patterns. New research published in BioMed Central's open access journal BMC Evolutionary Biology shows that the cavefish are an example of convergent evolution, with several populations repeatedly, and independently, losing their sight and pigmentation.

 

[DammitKhoa]

interesting, but it reminds me of a naked mole rat..

 

[vitaly]

i have read similar articles before. i find more interesting that the different blind cave tetra's might actually be different species or sub-species despite looking the same.
the blindness is caused by different mutation in each population.
if you cross two blind fish from different populations you might get a fish with regular color and eyes