Two species of blind cave-dwelling fish that inhabit an important Texas aquifer have spurred a fierce scientific debate that may now accelerate.
Citing the “substantial disagreement” among scientists, the Fish and Wildlife Service on Wednesday gave itself an additional six months to decide whether the toothless and widemouth blindcats require Endangered Species Act protection. The extra innings to resolve a scientific tie come as politicians and nonscientists, too, wrangle over a proposal to list the two species as endangered.
“There has been ongoing disagreement regarding the interpretation and accuracy of the best available information pertaining to the status of toothless blindcat and widemouth blindcat populations,” the FWS stated.
The scientific disagreements cover everything from the species’ respective life histories and the extent of their available habitat to the impact of groundwater wells in the city of San Antonio. The FWS explained that the “substantial nature” of these disagreements “became evident” during a public comment period that itself had been extended beyond the usual deadline.