New Delhi: In a remarkable discovery, scientists identified new loach species in South Garo Hills, Meghalaya. Schistura sonarengaensis was discovered in Sonarenga, Nakama and Chiabol caves in the district. The discovery was led by Dr Khlur Mukhim, principal of Lady Keane College, a team from Guwahati University, and funded by the ICAR – National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources in Lucknow. Wiley-Blackwell, an international Journal of Fish Biology of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles, officially published the research paper.
In its publication, Wiley-Blackwell said, “A new species of nemacheilid loach, Schistura sonarengaensis sp. nov., is described from three cave-dwelling populations (Barak-Surma-Meghna drainage) in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya, India.”
All about loach species
The newly discovered species can be identified by its striking prominent eyes and 13-26 vertically elongated to circular black blotches on a greyish-black mid-lateral stripe over a dull white or pale-beige body.
Despite not having the typical features of subterranean species, such as complete loss of eyes or pigmentation, this species does display reduced pigmentation compared to its surface-dwelling relatives.
Through genetic molecular analysis, scientists have confirmed that it is a distinct species in the region. Unlike other cave-dwelling species found in Jaintia and Khasi Hills, these fish have prominent eyes and are not blind.
This new species is unique in the Barak-Surma-Meghna and adjacent river drainages of northeast India, except Schistura syngkai.
The new species’ placement near its closest relative was determined using advanced analytical methods like maximum likelihood and Bayesian analysis. The species identification techniques, including automatic partitioning (ASAP) and Poisson tree processes (PTP), consistently confirmed that the new species is distinct from its closest relative. Despite not displaying typical physical traits associated with living underground, such as lack of eyes and pigmentation, the latest species does show a reduced level of pigmentation compared to similar species found above ground.
A recent discovery in Meghalaya revealed a new species of loach, and Wiley-Blackwell, an international Journal of Fish Biology of the Fisheries Society of the British Isles, officially published it. Let us read more about it. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
