‘Large'-mouthed aquarium pet turns out to be new species in India. See the creature
Near a village in northeastern India, a 'dwarf'-like creature with a 'large' mouth swam through the river — or tried to, at least. But something pulled it out of the water, moved it around and dropped it in a smaller pool.
An aquarium keeper looked at his newest find. He didn't know it right away, but he'd discovered a new species.
Farham Sangma, a 'fish hobbyist' who 'often collects fish for the aquarium trade,' visited a river in Meghalaya in 2017 and 2020 and found some colorful fish. He collected a few and later sent photos of them to Jayasimhan Praveenraj, a fish researcher, Praveenraj told McClatchy News via email.
The photos immediately caught Praveenraj's attention. The yellow and blue fish didn't look like any known species.
Praveenraj and a team of researchers took a closer look at some of these fish, tested their DNA and realized they'd discovered a new species: Channa nachi, or Farham's snakehead fish, according to a study published March 27 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa.
Farham's snakehead fish are considered 'dwarf' fish, reaching about 5 inches in length, the study said. They have 'large' heads with 'large' mouths and 'fleshy' lips.
Photos show the 'unique' coloring of the new species. Researchers described it as having 'saddle-like, pale-brown bars' along its sides and 'bluish shades' toward its tail.
Snakehead fish are 'regularly collected and exported for the international aquarium pet industry,' researchers said. Praveenraj said the new species was 'mistakenly exported to Japan in the year 2017' along with other snakehead fish.
In their natural habitat, Farham's snakeheads live in 'a shallow, slow-flowing stream with moderately clear water,' the study said. So far, the new species has only been found in one river in southern Meghalaya, near the border with Bangladesh.
Researchers said they named the new species 'nachi' after 'the local vernacular name for the species in Garo language spoken by the Garo tribes of Meghalaya.' The new species's common name refers to its initial discoverer.
The new species was identified by its coloring, body proportions, fin shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 10% genetic divergence from other related species.
The research team included Praveenraj, Nallathambi Moulitharan, Annam Pavan-Kumar, Ravi Shanthy Naveen, Tejas Thackeray, Rameshori Yumnam and Shantabala Devi Gurumayum.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Miami Herald
Rare scaly creatures — one pregnant — seen for first time in east India forest
In the hills of eastern India, in a region carved by deep river valleys and dense rainforests, two scaly creatures slept perched on different branches of the same tree. To the surprise of the researchers surveying the forest, they had stumbled upon two Calotes zolaiking, a species of mountain lizard previously only known from Mizoram, a state about 120 miles west, according to a May 30 study published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. The sighting marks the first time the species has been recorded outside of the region where it was first discovered in 2019, researchers said. One of the two lizards was a pregnant female, according to the study. This finding sheds light on the reproductive cycles of the species and indicates it breeds during pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons, researchers said. Calotes zolaiking are about 5 inches long and their bodies are various shades of green with dark patches throughout. They are 'strongly keeled,' meaning each of the lizard's long scales has a ridge in the middle, giving it a sharper overall appearance, according to the study. Because the rainforests of Meghalaya are connected to the hills of Mizoram by other forests, the species may have 'continuous distribution throughout and around' this whole region, researchers said. Meghalaya is part of the Indo-Myanmar biodiversity hotspot, and the region holds a large number of endemic species, or species found nowhere else in the world, according to the study. It ranks as one of the most vital and irreplaceable hotspots worldwide., according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is also one of the top five most threatened hotspots due to human-related pressures. More people live in this hotspot than any other in the world, according to the group. Researchers said continuous and comprehensive surveys of the contiguous forests are necessary in light of increasing habitat loss. Meghalaya includes the East Khasi Hills District near the border of Bangladesh. The research team included Sanath Chandra Bohra, Chunglallian Ranglong, Goldenstar Thongni, Banyllashisha Wankhar, Cynthia Mylliem Umlong, Madhurima Das, Holiness Warjri, and Jayaditya Purkayastha.
Miami Herald
5 days ago
- Miami Herald
Students locate ancient Roman army camp beyond empire's northern border. See it
A team of university students sifted through chalky dirt in the Netherlands looking for artifacts or other traces of ancient Roman activity. For years, they'd been piecing together the site's history, and this dig offered the final confirmation. They'd located a 'rare' ancient Roman military camp — beyond the empire's northern border. But the project didn't start in the field. It started at a desk when Jens Goeree, a student with Saxion University of Applied Sciences, 'developed a computer model' to predict the location of ancient Roman military camps, Saskia Stevens, an archaeologist and professor with Utrecht University, told McClatchy News. Goeree's model predicted a Roman camp might exist near Hoog Buurlo, so professors and students with the Constructing the Limes research project decided to investigate. The team, led by Stevens, involved students from Saxion University of Applied Sciences and Utrecht University, according to a May 26 news release. First, students took aerial photos of the Hoog Buurlo area and scanned the site with laser pulses, a process known as a LiDAR survey, Stevens told McClatchy News via email. Sure enough, the scans and photos showed traces of ancient Roman walls, a moat and several entrances. Next, the team searched the area 'using a metal detector' and excavated 'several trial trenches,' Stevens said in the release. Photos show the dig process and a military harness fragment uncovered at the site. 'Few artefacts were found,' Steven said, but the traces confirmed Hoog Buurlo had once served as a temporary ancient Roman military camp, likely around 1,800 years ago. 'What makes this find so remarkable is that the camp lies beyond the northern frontier of the Roman Empire,' Stevens said in the release. The empire's northern border, known as the Limes, was roughly 15 miles south of Hoog Buurlo. Utrecht University described the newly found campsite as 'rare.' Dozens of temporary camps have been found in Germany and hundreds have been found in the United Kingdom, but 'only four such temporary Roman camps are known in the Netherlands,' Stevens said. Roman soldiers typically stayed at temporary camps for a few days or weeks before continuing marching. The Hoog Buurlo camp may have 'served as a stopover en route to another camp at Ermelo-Leuvenum, about a day's march away,' the university said. 'Through the (Constructing the Limes) project, we are particularly interested in these kinds of camps because they provide valuable insights into Roman military presence and operations in frontier regions,' Stevens said. 'They help us understand the routes taken by Roman troops and show how the Romans made extensive use of territories beyond the formal boundaries of their Empire.' Hoog Buurlo is in the central Netherlands and a roughly 50-mile drive southeast from Amsterdam.
Miami Herald
23-05-2025
- Miami Herald
From Roman shafts to island mud: Take a look at latest new species
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are being discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent new species discoveries: 'Large'-eyed creature found lurking in ancient Roman mine. It's a new species In the ancient Roman mine underneath Carmona, Spain, researchers discovered a new species of isopod named Baeticoniscus carmonaensis, or the Carmona isopod. This tiny crustacean, with its segmented body and 'large' black eyes, was found on decomposing wood within the mine's aqueducts. | Published May 19 | Read More | 'Fighting' fish that survives drought by hiding in the mud is new rare species On Sumatra Island, researchers identified a new species of betta fish called Betta iaspis, found in a forest peat swamp. This fish, with its reddish-brown head and iridescent blue patches, survives droughts by hiding in moist mud. Researchers proposed that the species should be listed as critically endangered due to its limited habitat threatened by human activities. | Published May 16 | Read More | Black-eyed mountain creature found under debris in Vietnam. It's a new species On Hon Ba Mountain in Vietnam, scientists discovered a new species of lizard, the Hon Ba ground skink, or Scincella honbaensis. This small skink, with its slender body and pointed snout, was found under tile debris in an evergreen forest. | Published May 16 | Read More | 'Toxic'-skinned creature with 'large' hands discovered as new species in Brazil In the Amazon rainforest's Juruá River basin, researchers found a new species of frog named Ranitomeya aetherea, or the heavenly poison dart frog. This small frog, with its 'toxic skin' and vibrant blue stripes, was discovered in palm plants. The species is active mostly in the early morning and late afternoon. | Published May 15 | Read More | Pregnant creature found in 'rotting leaves' on Vietnam peak. It's a new species On Tà Cú Mountain in Vietnam, a new species of lizard, the orange-tailed ground skink, or Scincella auranticaudata, was discovered. This medium-sized skink, with its vibrant orange tail and robust body, was found among rotting leaves in an evergreen forest. | Published May 16 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
