TikTok clip spurred discovery of Gangaichthys indonepalicus in Indo-Gangetic plains
A TikTok clip from 2024 helped scientists discover a brand-new species (and even a new genus) of earthworm eel, now named Gangaichthys indonepalicus.
This tiny, pale fish was seen popping out of a borewell near the India-Nepal border. After tracking down the spot, researchers confirmed it's the first permanently underground-dwelling fish ever found in the Indo-Gangetic Plains and Gangetic Basin.
Genetic tests confirm unique subterranean adaptations
To actually catch this elusive creature, scientists had to pump out about 2,500-liter of water from the borewell.
The first eel got damaged during extraction, but they finally found an intact one after more water was removed.
Genetic tests and scans showed it's truly unique, adapted for life underground with a see-through body, tiny eyes, and no visible ribs.
The discovery highlights how much we still have to learn about what lives beneath our feet.