Latest news with #KangkanSarma
Deccan Herald
4 days ago
- Science
- Deccan Herald
Unique cave fish species found in Meghalaya by Gauhati University, Lady Keane College researchers
Dr Kangkan Sarma and his team from #GauhatiUniversity have discovered Schistura densiclava ~ a new species of cave-dwelling loach from #Meghalaya, marking their ninth such discovery. This remarkable contribution to global biodiversity has been featured by @BBC News, bringing… — Gauhati University (@GauhatiUniv) May 30, 2025 Intrigued by the discovery of a new blind cave dwelling fish species 'Schistura 'densiclava'' in Krem Mawjymbuin, a limestone cave near Mawsynram, Meghalaya. This is the sixth discovery of unique cave fish species in Meghalaya. These discoveries are testament to Meghalaya's… — Conrad K Sangma (@SangmaConrad) May 30, 2025
Miami Herald
6 days ago
- Science
- Miami Herald
‘Fast' river creature with ‘fleshy' lips found in India cave. It's a new species
In a hard-to-reach cave of northeastern India, a 'slender' river creature with 'fleshy' lips tucked itself under a rock. A flash of bright light startled it. It swam away 'fast' — but not fast enough. Scientists looked at their striped catch. It turned out to be a new species. A team of researchers decided to visit Krem Mawjymbuin, a remote cave in Meghalaya, several times between 2022 and 2024 to survey subterranean aquatic life, according to a study published May 23 in the peer-reviewed Journal of Fish Biology. Krem Mawjymbuin has 'many rift entrances and passages' but generally follows an 'almost horizontal underground stream,' the study said. Because of its location and terrain, the cavern 'can be accessed only during (the) winter' dry season when water levels are low. Once at the cave entrance, researchers followed a stream for roughly 260 feet. Along the way, they found lots of bat guano, very little plant life and some fish. Intrigued, the team used a net to catch some of the fish and, after taking a closer look, realized they'd discovered a new species: Schistura densiclava, or the thick-striped loach. Thick-striped loaches have an 'elongated' and 'slender' body, reaching about 3 inches in length, the study said. Their 'pointed' and 'triangular' heads have 'prominent' black eyes and 'thick, fleshy, pleated lips.' Photos show the brown, black and cream coloring of the new species. Researchers said they named the new species after the Latin words for 'thick' and 'stripe' because of its 'unique colour pattern.' Thick-striped loaches were found in 'a small pool in fast-flowing water,' the study said. The fish mostly stayed near the bottom of the stream, 'usually hiding under' rocks, but were also seen 'digging' and 'foraging.' Researchers described the new species as 'a fast swimmer' and 'an opportunistic feeder.' When exposed to 'flashlights and noise,' the fish reacted 'with increased swimming activity.' Thick-striped loaches seem 'to have an extremely limited distribution,' the study said. So far, the new species has only been found in Krem Mawjymbuin 'despite targeted efforts in nearby streams.' Krem Mawjymbuin is near the town of Mawsynram in Meghalaya, a state of northeastern India that borders Bangladesh. 'Subterranean aquatic biodiversity is generally considered to be the most fragile and extremely sensitive to environmental disturbances,' but researchers identified 'no immediate threats' to the survival of thick-striped loaches. The new species was identified by its coloring, eyes, head shape, fin shape and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 4% genetic divergence from other related species. The research team included D. Khlur Baiaineh Mukhim, Kangkan Sarma, Hrishikesh Choudhury, Rajdeep Das, Rejani Chandran, Rajeev Singh, Deisakee Warbah, Wandalin Lyngdoh, Uttam Kumar Sarkar and Dandadhar Sarma.
The Hindu
25-05-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
Meghalaya's new cave-dwelling fish adapts to streams overground
GUWAHATI An underground cave in Meghalaya, in focus for a conflict over a Shivalinga-like stone formation, has yielded a new-to-science fish that adapts to streams overground. A team of zoologists, led by Kangkan Sarma of Gauhati University's Department of Zoology, has recorded Schistura densiclava as a new species of troglophile loach from Krem Mawjymbuin in the State's East Khasi Hills district. A troglophile animal is essentially a cave-dwelling animal that can thrive and reproduce in epigean, or aboveground, environments. Krem means cave in the indigenous Khasi language. Mr. Sarma and D. Khlur Baiaineh Mukhim are the lead authors of the study published in the latest issue of the Journal of Fish Biology, a peer-reviewed publication of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles. The other authors are Hrishikesh Choudhury, Rajdeep Das, Rejani Chandran, Rajeev K. Singh, Deisakee P. Warbah, Wandalin Lyngdoh, Uttam Kumar Sarkar, and Dandadhar Sarma. A 206-metre-high cave, Krem Mawjymbuin, has a surveyed length of about 1.6 km. The newly described loach, a bottom-dwelling fish with barbels hanging from the mouth, was found in a cool, fast-flowing stream about 60 meters inside the cave, where the temperature was 18°C and oxygen levels were low. Belonging to the Nemacheilidae family, Schistura densiclava is adapted to the dark, subterranean environment but can also survive in surface waters. According to the authors, it retains pigment and eyesight, unlike other cave-dwelling fishes such as Schistura papulifera or Neolissochilus pnar, also recorded from Meghalaya. The newly described loach has a pale yellow-green body 'marked with 14-20 greyish black to faint black bars' and a thick stripe near the dorsal fin. This stripe gave the loach its name – densiclava, which means 'thick stripe' in Latin. The study said the Schistura densiclava males are slimmer with irregular patterns and puffier cheeks, while the females are sturdier with consistent markings. 'Genetic testing confirmed it as a completely new species... The distribution of the new species is limited to the cave, which suggests endemism in this cave system,' the researchers said. Schistura densiclava is the sixth cave-dwelling fish recorded from Meghalaya, three of which were described by Gauhati University scientists. Krem Mawjymbuin, among the most difficult to access, is one of several complex limestone cave systems in Meghalaya. The cave was in the news in 2024 when the Mawsynram Dorbar Shnong, the traditional village institution that controls the area, cited ecological reasons for banning the worship of the Shivalinga-like structure inside it.
