The Strange Blind Fish of the Lower Congo River

The Lower Congo River, with its turbulent rapids and deep waters, is home to over 300 unique fish species, many of which are found nowhere else on Earth. The river's powerful rapids create isolated habitats, leading to allopatric speciation. Some fish have evolved extreme adaptations, such as blindness and lack of pigment, due to their isolated environments. The river is a prime location for studying convergent evolution, where unrelated species develop similar traits. Despite its dangers, researchers are working to understand the river's unique biodiversity and evolutionary processes.

What is the primary reason for the unique biodiversity in the Lower Congo River?

• The presence of numerous isolated habitats

• The river's warm temperature

• The river's connection to the Atlantic Ocean

• The river's shallow depth

How does the cichlid in the Lower Congo River differ from its aquarium relatives?

• It can survive in both saltwater and freshwater

• It has vibrant colors

• It is larger in size

• It lacks pigment and has underdeveloped eyes

What is convergent evolution?

• The adaptation of a species to a new environment

• The extinction of a species due to environmental changes

• The merging of two species into one

• The process where unrelated species develop similar traits

Why is the Lower Congo River a challenging place for researchers?

• Its remote location

• Its dangerous rapids and depth

• Its high temperature

• Its lack of biodiversity

What are scientists trying to understand about the fish in the Lower Congo River?

• The fish's migration patterns

• The genes driving their unique adaptations

• The fish's diet

• The river's water temperature