The fascination of Danube infiltration

Nature experience

Der Höhlenfisch

  • Rivers & streams
  • Sinking holes

Unterirdisch, 78194 Immendingen

Welcome to

It was a worldwide sensation, the discovery of the cave fish in the Danube-Aach system. All the media reported on it in 2017, including the scientific media. This cavefish is the first recorded cavefish population in Europe and the northernmost cavefish population in the world.

It is a species of brook loach (Barbatula barbatula), which probably only separated from the surface loaches around 20,000 years ago and adapted to the "underworld", the so-called "Black Danube".

Over the years, the fish has adapted to the living conditions in the underground cave system. Compared to its above-ground relatives, it has greatly reduced eyes and is almost blind. Its color is pale, the nostrils enlarged.

For better orientation, its whiskers (tactile appendages on the head) are longer. It grows to around 8.5 cm in size


Source: DZT Knowledge Graph

Fascinating places

Please accept cookies on this page to use the map feature.