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Background  In blind cave-dwelling populations of  Astyanax mexicanus , several morphological and behavioral shifts occurred during evolution in caves characterized by total and permanent darkness. Previous studies have shown that sensory systems such as the lateral line (mechanosensory) and taste buds (chemosensory) are modified in cavefish. It has long been hypothesized that another chemosensory modality, the olfactory system, might have evolved as well to provide an additional mechanism for food-searching in troglomorphic  Astyanax  populations.    Findings  During a March 2013 cave expedition to the Sierra de El Abra region of San Luís Potosi, Mexico, we tested chemosensory capabilities of the  Astyanax mexicanus  of the Rio Subterráneo cave. This cave hosts a hybrid population presenting a wide range of troglomorphic and epigean mixed phenotypes. During a behavioral test performed  in situ  in the cave, a striking correlation was observed between the absence of eyes and an increased attraction to food extract. In addition, eyeless troglomorphic fish possessed significantly larger naris size than their eyed, nontroglomorphic counterparts.    Conclusions  Our findings suggest that chemosensory capabilities might have evolved in cave-dwelling  Astyanax mexicanus  and that modulation of naris size might at least partially underlie this likely adaptive change.

Differences in chemosensory response between eyed and eyeless Astyanax mexicanus of the Rio Subterráneo cave