An international team of ichthyologists from Europe, the United States, and India has discovered a new fish species, the Gitchak nakana, in Northeast India

An international team of ichthyologists from Europe, the United States, and India has discovered a new fish species, the Gitchak nakana, in Northeast India

¨   An international team of ichthyologists from Europe, the United States, and India has discovered a new fish species, the Gitchak nakana, in Northeast India.

¨     This species lives in underground aquifers. It is the first phreatobitic fish reported from this region of Asia.

¨     It is also the first previously unknown underground creature identified in Northeast India.

¨     The discovery was published in Scientific Reports on February 26.

¨     This species is unique. The fish lacks a skull roof. Its brain is covered only by skin.

¨     Many underground species are found in caves. Some species have adapted to other hidden habitats, such as aquifers.

¨     Aquifers are underground water systems. They host many invertebrates and some fish species.

¨     More than 300 underground fish species are known worldwide.

¨     Less than 10 percent of them are found in aquifers.

¨     The blind loach was discovered in a dug well in Assam, India.

¨ It shows special adaptations for underground life. These adaptations are known astroglomorphic traits.

¨   The genus name comes from the Garo word "gitchak," meaning red. This refers to the fish's bright red color.

¨   The species name is derived from the Garo words "na tok," meaning fish, and "kana," meaning blind.

¨     The name refers to the species' lack of eyes.