Where Does Ozark Cavefish Live?

Ozark Cavefish lives in specific habitats. Knowing where to look helps you find and identify it.

Where to find Ozark Cavefish

Water type

freshwater

Depth

Typically found in shallow pools, streams, and sumps within caves, but can access deeper phreatic zones.

Environment

Subterranean aquatic environments, specifically limestone caves and karst systems. Requires stable water temperatures, high water quality, and a constant supply of allochthonous organic matter and invertebrate prey.

Geographic range

Endemic to the Ozark Plateaus of southwestern Missouri, northwestern Arkansas, and northeastern Oklahoma, USA. Its distribution is highly fragmented, restricted to specific cave systems within this region.

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