Spring Cavefish

This is the only cavefish in our state that has eyes and whose body is yellowish-brown or brown; our other cavefishes lack eyes and are pale and nearly colorless. This fish resembles a salamander, with a cingle dorsal fin without spines, a rounded tail fin and very small eyes. The scales are so small that the body appears naked. Pelvic fins absent; anus far forward of the anal fin, on throat of adults. The head and body have numerous rows of sensory papillae (budlike protuberances). Back is dark brown to nearly black, grading to lighter brown on sides and cream-yellow on the belly. Often there is a thin yellow stripe along each side. Fins are dusky or clear.