Rare blind fish found only in Anbar caves faces survival risk

ANBAR, Iraq — A rare blind freshwater fish found only in a handful of caves and underground springs near the Iraqi city of Anbar is at risk, according to fish-naming specialist Adel al-Ahmedi. The species has adapted to life in complete darkness, losing its eyes as an adult and developing a pinkish-white coloration, al-Ahmedi said. It reaches roughly 49 millimeters in length and lives in groundwater with a steady temperature of 20 to 22 degrees Celsius, becoming active at night and hiding between rocks when disturbed. The species was identified from specimens collected near the Sheikh Hadid shrine by Basim Mohammed al-Azawi of the Baghdad Natural History Research Center, according to the account. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has classified the fish as Vulnerable on its Red List of Threatened Species. Al-Ahmedi called for protection of the fish's natural habitat and for scientific breeding programs to preserve its genetic diversity. Separately, Anbar's Environment Directorate denied reports of a newly discovered cave in the province, saying the site in question is a long-known location called Hisfi.