News Animals

Loss of vision meant energy savings for cavefish

In dark, sight can be costly, novel measurement finds

Mexican cavefish

VISUAL ECONOMY  An unusual measurement shows how much Mexican cavefish — with no eyes — save on metabolic costs since the cave population lost its vision.

D. Moran

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Eyes and the brain tissue needed for vision demand about 15 percent of the energy budget of a young Mexican fish, researchers have found.