DEL RIO -- An extremely rare eyeless catfish species previously thought to exist only in Mexico has been discovered in Texas.
Two Mexican blindcats were collected last month from a limestone cave at the Amistad National Recreation Area near Del Rio.
Dean Hendrickson, a Mexican blindcats expert with the University of Texas, said he believes it's the first time a specimen has been found in the U.S.
The Mexican blindcat is known to live only in areas supported by the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer but the new finding supports a theory that water-filled caves below the Rio Grande may connect the Texas and Mexico portions of the aquifer.
The fish are now at the San Antonio Zoo but there is no timetable yet for when they will be displayed to the public.