Scientists have discovered the first European cave fish. It was found in the north in Southern Germany.
Despite that relatively short period of evolutionary time, the fish already show adaptations characteristic of “real” cave fish.
The fish have elongated whisker-like barbels on their heads and larger nostrils than related fish living closer to the surface.
Joachim Kreiselmaier first sighted the loaches in August 2015 while exploring the deepest parts of the Danube-Aach system.
Researchers at the University of Konstanz in Germany carried out genetic studies of the loach which showed that the species had only been living in the cave for 20,000 years.