New Cave-Dwelling Fish Species Schistura densiclava Discovered in Meghalaya.

Environment

In May 2025, a new species of cave-adapted fish named Schistura densiclava was recently discovered in the Krem Mawjymbuin cave, situated in the East Khasi Hills district of Meghalaya. The discovery was made by a collaborative team of researchers from Gauhati University (Guwahati, Assam), Lady Keane College (Shillong, Meghalaya), and the ICAR–National Bureau of Fish Genetic Resources (ICAR-NBFGR), based in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh (UP).


      - The findings have been published in the Journal of Fish Biology, highlighting the species' unique physical traits and specialized cave habitat.

      - The fish was located in a fast-flowing stream approximately 60 meters inside the cave, where the water temperature is around 18°C and oxygen levels are notably low.

     

Main Point :-   (i) Schistura densiclava features a pale yellow-green body adorned with 14–20 greyish-black vertical bars and a distinctive thick dorsal stripe. The name densiclava is derived from Latin, meaning "thick stripe."

      (ii) Unlike obligate cave-dwelling species such as Schistura papulifera, this newly discovered species retains functional eyesight and body pigmentation, enabling it to thrive in multiple environments.

(iii) Belonging to the Nemacheilidae family of bottom-dwelling freshwater fishes, the species is equipped with barbels—whisker-like sensory organs—that help detect prey in low-light conditions.

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