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The 'cavefishes' (commonly: ''blindfishes'', ''swampfishes'') are a family ('Amblyopsidae') of fish found in caves and adapted to life in the dark, notably lacking eyes and pigmentation, as a result having a pale or whitish color. They are all found in the southern and eastern United States. Some can be found elsewhere as well. There are about 80 known varities of cavefish.
Cavefishes are generally small, ranging up to 11 cm in length. Most do not have pelvic fins, although ''Amblyopsis spelaea'' has small ones with up to six rays. Only three species of cave fish lack eyes completely, but several others have useless eyes. The majority of cave fish have little to no pigment in their skin. These features are an example of regressive evolution.
Cavefishes can only be found in caves that have streams running ''into'' them; a cave with no inlets (such as Blanchard Springs Caverns in Arkansas) will not contain cavefishes. They are believed to have been evolved from their aboveground counterparts.

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Species

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Species

The family includes six species in five genera:

★ Genus ''Amblyopsis

★ Genus ''Typhlichthys''

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★ Southern cavefish, ''Typhlichthys subterraneus'' Girard, 1859.

★ Genus ''Chologaster''

★ Genus ''Forbesichthys''

★ Genus ''Speoplatyrhinus''

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