Extinct Fish Species Found Alive in Bolivia!

A remarkable rediscovery has occurred in Bolivia, where the Moema claudiae, a rivulidae killifish not documented in the wild for over two decades, has been found. This species was previously considered possibly extinct, with the last sightings dating back to 2003 in a now-destroyed wetland.

Scientists Heinz Drawert and Thomas Litz successfully located male and female M. claudiae in a small blackwater pond, a significant find given habitat loss due to deforestation and agriculture. This rediscovery offers a critical second chance for conservation efforts, particularly as global freshwater species face alarming extinction risks.

The area where the fish were found is noted as highly biodiverse for South American rivulids. Conservationists are urging swift action to protect this habitat from agricultural expansion and advocate for measures like catch limits and community involvement to safeguard endangered fish.