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At the year’s end I wanted to post some images of a couple of other cool species I got to photograph this year. The Congo River’s Blind Eel (Mastacembelus brichardi) lives in the rapids area of the Lower Congo River. Science isn’t quite sure yet why it has a morphology of a cave fish…that is it is nearly depigmented and doesn’t have eyes. The Congo River is a turbid river and light is completely cut out of the water column in just a few meters depth; however, there are still plenty of other species of fish living there that have retained their eyes and vision. The lack of eyes and low pigmentation are strange and a mystery for science to work out. I had the good fortune of photographing a couple of specimens and wanted to post them. Likewise, I wanted to include a couple of shots of a male Terrible Poison Frog (Phyllobates terribilis) carrying tadpoles. I hope everyone has a fantastic new year!
The Congo River Blind Eel (Mastacembelus brichardi)
A Terrible Poison Frog, Phyllobates terribilis, transporting tadpoles.
Happy New Year!
May 13th, 2012 at 7:29 pm
I believe this site has got some real superb information for everyone.
June 26th, 2012 at 10:35 am
I saw the eel on a tv special the other evening. Great to see the pictures and see some detail. You have a gift when it comes to photography!
Jill
June 26th, 2012 at 11:03 am
Hi Jill,
Yes, there is a show that features Congo River deep water fish. Some incredible wildlife deep below the surface of that river! Thanks for your comment.
Dante
August 4th, 2012 at 7:16 pm
I wonder what else lives along the bottom of our rivers and lakes that we haven’t found yet? That is a neat eel.
JPL
January 24th, 2013 at 10:00 am
Hi, I just read texts on your blog and I became interested in the topic. Is there a book on things that live at the bottoms of rivers? Do you have any suggested reading? Thanks.
Boe
May 26th, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Hi Boe, I wish I had an answer for you on a book about things living at the bottom of rivers. I’ve got a biodiversity book on its way out now where I have a chapter on the subject. I’ll post info on the book here as it gets closer to coming out. Thanks!!
April 17th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
I am a freshmen in college and for our biology project we are making web sites on venomous organisms. I’m doing mine on the golden poison frog and I need pictures to help decorate the web site. On google I stumbled upon your picture of the frog and I was wondering if I could use it in my web page. It is all non-commercial and I will be sure to cite the picture correctly.
Thanks,
mara.loga@uwlax.edu
May 26th, 2013 at 7:38 pm
Hi Logan-No problem and good luck!
December 29th, 2013 at 11:43 am
do you have an ideas why the eel doesn’t have eyes?
Juan
December 29th, 2013 at 3:15 pm
Hi Juan,
That is a great question. The eels don’t live in particularly deep water but the water is turbid and light doesn’t penetrate much beyond the first few feet. Why this species has reacted to darkness differently than other fish living in the same river is still unknown.
Cheers & Thanks-Dante
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