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Tiny Eel Found Miles Underground in India!
18 Aug
Summary
- A new genus and species of underground eel was discovered in Bihar, India.
- The tiny, colorless eel measures about 4cm and adapted to total darkness.
- Discovery followed a TikTok video showing the fish emerging from a borewell.
A remarkable new genus and species of underground earthworm eel has been identified in Bihar, northern India. The discovery was serendipitously initiated by a TikTok video shared in 2024, which depicted the tiny fish emerging from a borewell.
This newly named species, Gangaichthys indonepalicus, represents the first subterranean fish documented in the Gangetic Basin. Measuring a mere 4cm, it possesses unique adaptations for a lightless environment, such as eyes covered by skin and a translucent, unpigmented body.
Researchers undertook extensive fieldwork, manually pumping thousands of liters of water from local handpumps to obtain specimens. After considerable effort and pumping approximately 2,500 liters, they successfully secured intact samples.
Subsequent genetic analysis and CT X-ray scans confirmed the eel's distinct genus within the Chaudhuriidae family. This finding underscores the vast, underexplored biodiversity of India, spanning diverse climates and regions, with many more species awaiting discovery.
