Schistura sonarengaensis:
A group of scientists recently identified a new species of loach, named Schistura sonarengaensis, in Meghalaya’s South Garo Hills district, near the Bangladesh border.
- Schistura sonarengaensis is a new species of loach recently discovered.
- Loach is a freshwater bottom-dwelling fish and found across rivers in Southeast Asia.
- The new species is described from three cave-dwelling populations (Barak-Surma-Meghna drainage) in the South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya.
- The species is distinguished by its prominent eyes and 13-26 vertically elongated to circular black blotches on a grayish-black mid-lateral stripe, over a dull white or pale-beige body.
- Despite lacking the typical adaptations for subterranean life, such as complete loss of eyes or pigmentation, this species shows reduced pigmentation compared to surface-dwelling relatives.
- While these cave-dwelling fish are somewhat pale, they are not blind like other cave species found in Jaintia and Khasi Hills.
- The new species retains prominent eyes and is distinct from other Schistura species in the Barak-Surma-Meghna and adjacent river drainages of northeast India, except for Schistura syngkai.
